Occasionally I am asked to pray for public events outside of our congregation. I am happy to offer such prayers, but I am always mindful that some of those I will be praying probably are not Christian. As such, I feel I have a responsibility to pray in a religiously inclusive way, so that almost everyone can pray together. While it may still exclude atheists, it does allow Christians, Jews, Muslims, and others who believe in a higher being to pray together.
More often, when we find ourselves praying with other people, we will be praying with a group of Christians. But we still have a responsibility to be respectful and inclusive of those we pray with, so that we may truly pray together. This is a hard task, and many people -- including many pastors who should know better -- are not very good at it. So often we're focused on what we feel, but such things are best reserved for personal prayer; when we pray as a group, we are supposed to raise our voices together.
Theoretically, it should be possible for opponents, even enemies, to pray with each other, but we are so mistrustful, and sometimes so willing to use prayer combatively, that it rarely happens. But we must never become so cynical that we just stop praying with other people -- rugged individualism is not a good prayer model. Instead, we should be happy to pray with others, trying always to respect them and their beliefs; after all, they are our brothers and sisters in faith too, and deserve our respect.
Today's Prayer Prompt: During the day, find an opportunity to pray with someone else or with a small group. Make sure that you lead part of the prayer yourself and that you are mindful of the others you are praying with while you do.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
The Who of Prayer: Praying for Other People
Generally, our prayers include prayers for people who are not with us while we pray. How often do we include our family members, friends, neighbors, and other people in our prayers? And I suspect that we pray more for them when they cannot hear us because we tend to be self-conscious about prayer.
"I'm praying for you" might be one of the most grace-filled statements in the English language. It is an intimate wish of well-being which we can offer each other, the idea that we think of someone else during our personal moments with God. And even when the people we pray for do not hear our prayers for them, our prayer creates a bond between them and us.
We cannot fully comprehend the power of these prayers. Sometimes it appears that God answers them favorably -- people who were sick recover, sometimes from terrible illnesses; sometimes we see little effect to our prayers when God does not act as we hoped. But much as we can be drawn together through acts of worship, I believe that we are brought closer together when we pray for each other, even though it is difficult to explain how.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Pray for someone else today. Write that person a note or call them and tell them you prayed for them.
"I'm praying for you" might be one of the most grace-filled statements in the English language. It is an intimate wish of well-being which we can offer each other, the idea that we think of someone else during our personal moments with God. And even when the people we pray for do not hear our prayers for them, our prayer creates a bond between them and us.
We cannot fully comprehend the power of these prayers. Sometimes it appears that God answers them favorably -- people who were sick recover, sometimes from terrible illnesses; sometimes we see little effect to our prayers when God does not act as we hoped. But much as we can be drawn together through acts of worship, I believe that we are brought closer together when we pray for each other, even though it is difficult to explain how.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Pray for someone else today. Write that person a note or call them and tell them you prayed for them.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
The Who of Prayer: Jesus Christ
Often, we pray "in Jesus' name." What role does Jesus have in our prayers? Are we hoping that he passes them along to God the Father with his stamp of approval?
Some theologians teach, based on the scriptures, that we should pray in Jesus' name in order to approach God with the mantle of Jesus' authority as the Son of God. Scripture records Jesus teaching his disciples that God will do things for them that they ask in his name (meaning in Jesus' name) because God will accept the prayer as if Jesus himself prayed it.
I'm not entirely convinced that is what these passages (such as John 14:14) mean. Setting my doubts aside, though, I think that it is better to imagine that when we pray "in Jesus' name" we are praying to God in the way Jesus demonstrated to us.
As such, Jesus is not involved in our prayers as some sort of intercessor on our behalf; neither is he a sort of ticket that allows us into God's presence. He is the best example of how to pray directly to the one he called Abba, Father. He is the best example of how to pray with love instead of hate, with an eye toward personal transformation rather than toward personal elevation. We pray in Jesus' name as Jesus' disciples.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Before you pray today, imagine what you know about how Jesus prayed. If you don't know how Jesus prayed, read parts of the gospels, like Matthew 6 or John 17. Then try to follow his example as you pray.
Some theologians teach, based on the scriptures, that we should pray in Jesus' name in order to approach God with the mantle of Jesus' authority as the Son of God. Scripture records Jesus teaching his disciples that God will do things for them that they ask in his name (meaning in Jesus' name) because God will accept the prayer as if Jesus himself prayed it.
I'm not entirely convinced that is what these passages (such as John 14:14) mean. Setting my doubts aside, though, I think that it is better to imagine that when we pray "in Jesus' name" we are praying to God in the way Jesus demonstrated to us.
As such, Jesus is not involved in our prayers as some sort of intercessor on our behalf; neither is he a sort of ticket that allows us into God's presence. He is the best example of how to pray directly to the one he called Abba, Father. He is the best example of how to pray with love instead of hate, with an eye toward personal transformation rather than toward personal elevation. We pray in Jesus' name as Jesus' disciples.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Before you pray today, imagine what you know about how Jesus prayed. If you don't know how Jesus prayed, read parts of the gospels, like Matthew 6 or John 17. Then try to follow his example as you pray.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Who of Prayer: You
O burning Mountain, O chosen Sun
O perfect Moon, O fathomless Well,
O unattainable Height, O Clearness beyond measure,
O Wisdom without end, O Mercy without limit,
O Strength beyond resistance, O Crown beyond all majesty:
The humblest thing you created sings your praise.
-- Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210 - ca. 1285)
Often when we pray, we feel pitifully small compared to God. When we add our feelings of worthlessness and shame at our mistakes and sins, we feel smaller still. Deep down, we wonder if we should just keep quiet -- if we are just wasting God's time with our petty musings and concerns.
Sometimes we are full of ourselves when we pray too, and with righteous indignation we approach God and demand that we be heard. We have problems and we insist that God pay attention to them and work on solving them.
As in many things, our true identity lies somewhere in the middle: we are neither so small as to be God's afterthought nor so great as to be the center of God's universe. Then what are we? Perhaps it is good to remember that we are God's creation, wonderfully and fearfully made, loved by God and nurtured by God.
You are imperfect; indeed a sinner. You are also God's child, a beloved one. You need not shout to get God's attention, but God does expect you to speak up and to listen. You are unique in God's eyes and just like the rest of us. This is your identity; don't be ashamed of it. When you pray, be yourself.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Try to be open with God when you pray today, try to be yourself. Begin your prayer with Mechthild of Magdeburg's prayer.
O perfect Moon, O fathomless Well,
O unattainable Height, O Clearness beyond measure,
O Wisdom without end, O Mercy without limit,
O Strength beyond resistance, O Crown beyond all majesty:
The humblest thing you created sings your praise.
-- Mechthild of Magdeburg (1210 - ca. 1285)
Often when we pray, we feel pitifully small compared to God. When we add our feelings of worthlessness and shame at our mistakes and sins, we feel smaller still. Deep down, we wonder if we should just keep quiet -- if we are just wasting God's time with our petty musings and concerns.
Sometimes we are full of ourselves when we pray too, and with righteous indignation we approach God and demand that we be heard. We have problems and we insist that God pay attention to them and work on solving them.
As in many things, our true identity lies somewhere in the middle: we are neither so small as to be God's afterthought nor so great as to be the center of God's universe. Then what are we? Perhaps it is good to remember that we are God's creation, wonderfully and fearfully made, loved by God and nurtured by God.
You are imperfect; indeed a sinner. You are also God's child, a beloved one. You need not shout to get God's attention, but God does expect you to speak up and to listen. You are unique in God's eyes and just like the rest of us. This is your identity; don't be ashamed of it. When you pray, be yourself.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Try to be open with God when you pray today, try to be yourself. Begin your prayer with Mechthild of Magdeburg's prayer.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The Who of Prayer: God
Perhaps the most striking part of prayer, considering God's wisdom and God's power throughout the universe, is that God cares to communicate directly with us at all. God could act like a mighty king or corporate executive and only talk to certain people, and God could choose to speak to those people at only certain times.
But all of the evidence of scripture suggests that God wants individual relationships with each of us, and that He welcomes any opportunity to reach out to us and to draw us closer to Him. God not only allows for prayer, but desires it.
God cares what we think and feel, even as God tries to give us new understanding of the world in which we live, even as God subtly works to transform us into better people who think nobler thoughts and feel more love. God loves us and wants the best for us, so God listens to us and speaks to us, giving us many opportunities for growth.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Think about who you are praying to today. As part of your prayer, tell God "thank you" for listening and caring, and pray for God to work in your life to transform you.
But all of the evidence of scripture suggests that God wants individual relationships with each of us, and that He welcomes any opportunity to reach out to us and to draw us closer to Him. God not only allows for prayer, but desires it.
God cares what we think and feel, even as God tries to give us new understanding of the world in which we live, even as God subtly works to transform us into better people who think nobler thoughts and feel more love. God loves us and wants the best for us, so God listens to us and speaks to us, giving us many opportunities for growth.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Think about who you are praying to today. As part of your prayer, tell God "thank you" for listening and caring, and pray for God to work in your life to transform you.
Baby Pictures of Riley
Jann sent along some pictures of Roger and Erin's new addition to their family for me to post on the blog. This is Riley, born last week. And as you can see in the last picture, big sister Sarah is already taking good care of her baby brother.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Who of Prayer: Creating Right Relationships
This week we consider who is involved in prayer. While the central answer to that is God, we often overlook other people who are involved in our prayers. In fact, because we are so focused on God when we pray, we overlook the relationships involved in prayer.
One of the most important aspects of prayer is to develop better relationships. The central relationship that prayer shapes is between the you and God, but prayer also molds your relationships with people you pray for and people you pray with.
Prayer forces us to look outside of ourselves. Even though you may pray only for yourself sometimes, the act of prayer is itself a recognition that we are not the center of the universe, however egotistical we may be. And as we continue to prayer, we start to recognize even clearer the delicate strands that bind us to other people, and the circumstances in which those ties are strained or broken.
Sometimes prayer is used as a weapon, even in the scriptures. For all of the beautiful images of the psalms, there are gruesome desires there too, where the children of Israel prayer for the death and destruction of their enemies. Such emotions of violence and retribution are very human, and we cannot hide them from God; however, there is a difference between admitting these emotions and praying for God to act according to them.
The world is broken enough. We need to pray for healing. We do not need to pray out of hatred, directing God's punishment where we see fit. This strains our relationship with others -- including the very poor and outcast that Jesus calls us to serve as if they were Christ himself -- and it strains our relationship with God.
Instead, let us work to create healthier, more tolerant, more loving (even of our enemies) relationships that begin to recognize the complexities of the world in which we live and that demonstrate our growing understanding that we need each other. Prayer is a good way to build such relationships.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Think about a cherished relationship in your life that is strained right now, and be honest about your own actions in nurturing the conflict. Include a request for God's reconciliation in that relationship in your prayer today.
One of the most important aspects of prayer is to develop better relationships. The central relationship that prayer shapes is between the you and God, but prayer also molds your relationships with people you pray for and people you pray with.
Prayer forces us to look outside of ourselves. Even though you may pray only for yourself sometimes, the act of prayer is itself a recognition that we are not the center of the universe, however egotistical we may be. And as we continue to prayer, we start to recognize even clearer the delicate strands that bind us to other people, and the circumstances in which those ties are strained or broken.
Sometimes prayer is used as a weapon, even in the scriptures. For all of the beautiful images of the psalms, there are gruesome desires there too, where the children of Israel prayer for the death and destruction of their enemies. Such emotions of violence and retribution are very human, and we cannot hide them from God; however, there is a difference between admitting these emotions and praying for God to act according to them.
The world is broken enough. We need to pray for healing. We do not need to pray out of hatred, directing God's punishment where we see fit. This strains our relationship with others -- including the very poor and outcast that Jesus calls us to serve as if they were Christ himself -- and it strains our relationship with God.
Instead, let us work to create healthier, more tolerant, more loving (even of our enemies) relationships that begin to recognize the complexities of the world in which we live and that demonstrate our growing understanding that we need each other. Prayer is a good way to build such relationships.
Today's Prayer Prompt: Think about a cherished relationship in your life that is strained right now, and be honest about your own actions in nurturing the conflict. Include a request for God's reconciliation in that relationship in your prayer today.
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