"Misuse of Prayer"

From Ole Hallesby's book titled Prayer, copyright 1931 --

"From the very beginning we approach prayer with a grave misconception. Our selfishness knows no bounds. In more or less naive self-love we look upon everything in our environment with which we come in contact as our agencies, as things which exist for our sakes, as something for us to make use of and utilize to our own advantage. We think and act as though everything, inanimate things, plants, animals, human beings, even our own souls, were created for the purpose of bringing gratification to our selfish desires.

"And we make no exception of God.

"As soon as we encounter Him, we immediately look upon Him as another means of gaining our own ends."

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Hallesby notes that our prayers tend to become a long list of 'what I want God to do for me.'

He goes on to cite Matt 20:20-23 and the request made by the mother of James and John as "a typical example of misunderstood, misused, and unanswered prayer."

But, Hallesby points out, although the other apostles were indignant in the face of this wrong kind of request, Jesus was not offended. Jesus gently said no and offered teaching and improved understanding.

I suspect that I very often pray for wrong things, with wrong attitudes. I know that I don't have the mind of Christ, and I suffer from a limited, self-centered view of the world.

For those reasons, I am comforted by Hallesby's contention that when I fail to pray appropriately, Jesus is not angry or offended.

I welcome His continued instruction and patient reshaping of my prayer life.

In the Presence of the King

I've written before about how I struggle to understand the Biblical references to kings and kingdoms. Since those things (kings and kingdoms) are outside my experience, I sometimes find it hard to use them to understand God.

This morning we taught the story of Esther to a middle school class. At the climax of the drama, Esther must enter the presence of the king -- without an invitation. It took a great deal of courage on Esther's part to do this seemingly simple act.

In fact, she sent this note to her uncle, "Go, gather all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

Q. What's all the fuss about?
A. It was against the law for ANYONE (including the queen) to show up uninvited to see the king. The penalty for such impudence was death.

I don't know all the reasons for this rule. I assume that the king didn't want whatever he was doing interrupted by mere subjects. And possibly there were security issues related to this rule. (Guards could be given a straightforward order: kill anyone who goes past HERE.)

I also assume that part of what set the king apart from commoners was his Presence. He was king and his presence was exalted -- and therefore, not to be taken lightly.

So, Queen Esther had to muster up considerable bravery to approach the king. She was literally taking her life in her hands and relying totally on the king's mercy. (And this king had already gotten rid of one queen!)

What does this teach me about my God?

For one thing, it teaches me not to take His invitation to approach him lightly! It's a big deal to be given carte blanche to enter His throne room anytime.

After all, my God is much more important, much more worthy of being treated with respect than any earthly king. He is a million times more honorable.

And yet, he encourages me to approach him.

What an amazing blessing I have received to be able to call His name, get His attention, and count on His willingness to accept me into His presence.

An Extrapolating Faith

Extrapolate (ek-strap'eh-late) v. 1. Mathematics. To estimate for values of the argument not used in the process of estimation; broadly, to infer (a value or values) from known values 2. To infer or estimate (unknown information) by extending or projecting known information.


It occured to me this morning that God calls us to have what I have labeled an "extrapolating faith."

Look back at the Israelites. They were slaves in Egypt. Moses appeared on the scene asking Pharoah to let the people go, and God brought ten different plagues to convince Pharoah that he was up against the supremely powerful God Almighty. In the last plague, God provided a way to ensure that the death angel would pass over Israelite houses, protecting their firstborns.

The Israelites were granted permission to leave (taking all sorts of riches with them) and arrived at the Red Sea where they realized that the Egyptian army was closing in on them. The Red Sea was on one side and the charging war-ready chariots on the other.

We find it easy to criticize the Israelites' lack of faith when they complain to Moses about their plight. We say that they have just seen God's power demonstrated in the plagues. Why weren't they able to faithfully rely on Him now? I think we are being pretty hard on them.

Think about it. The miracles they had seen did not include protection from a vicious group of warriors. They were in a position that required what I am calling "extrapolating faith." They had to remember what God had done in one set of circumstances and infer that He could act in this new circumstance.

The same is true in the new testament. The disciples saw Jesus heal the sick. They knew that He could make bodies well. Then one day when it was time for a meal, they couldn't figure out how to feed thousands of people. We chuckle knowingly at their dimness.

But what about Jesus healing people would cause the disciples to automatically jump to the idea that He would provide food on such a grand scale? I sympathize with them. He was calling them to see His power in healing circumstances and trust that his power would apply in other circumstances.

And isn't that what we are called to do? Each of us knows the Bible accounts of God's action. Each of us can recall the miracles in Biblical history. We are told to remember. To help us remember, God instituted memorials such as Passover, the ebenezer, the Lord's Table.

But we are called to more than remembrance. We are called to a higher faith than just trusting that He will do what He has done before. We are invited to extrapolate. We are encouraged to remember what God has done in those circumstances and infer that He will act in power in our own different circumstances.

It's not an easy leap. It isn't based on logic; it's a matter of faith -- Faith not just that He will do what He's done before, but faith that He will continue to astound us, finding paths where we see none and working solutions we discount as impossible.

We are called to see examples of His specific power and extrapolate an understanding of His unlimited power, examples of His specific acts of grace and extrapolate an understanding of His eternal, unbounded love, examples of His relationship with people in the Bible and extrapolate an expectation of the rich relationship He offers me.

An extrapolating faith.

Eyes of the Heart

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul tells his friends that he prays that the eyes of their hearts may be enlightened or opened. (1:18)

Isn't that an interesting concept: the eyes of our hearts.

Not the physical eyes of our bodies that see physical things around us -- lamps, chairs, trees, birds. . . but the "eyes of our hearts" that can discern deeper things, spiritual matters, eternal truths.

Jesus talked about people who have eyes but don't see. It's entirely possible to have 20/20 vision but not be able to see the truths of the Bible. It was possible for people to go out of their villages to see Jesus but not see who he was/is. It's possible for people today to see Jesus as an historical figure but not see him as Lord of life.

Think about the two on the road to Emmaus, who didn't recognize Jesus as they walked along with him. They saw a man, a traveling companion, but they didn't see him as Jesus -- until their eyes were opened.

In the beatitudes, we are told that the pure in heart will see God. I believe that this promise refers not to physical sight, but to that sight that discerns more than physical things, the ability to see God at work in our everyday experiences.

I love the old testament story about Elisha's servant who is afraid of the huge enemy army that has surrounded them. From my viewpoint, the servant has reason to panic -- he sees a large number of bad guys, armed to the teeth and intent on doing harm to him and the prophet. All human logic was on the side of the servant and his apparently justified fears.

But Elisha comforts him and prays that God will open his eyes so that he can see. God grants this prayer, and the servant sees the hills filled with horses and chariots of fire. Then he understands what Elisha meant when he had said, "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them." 2 Kings 6

The same is true for us. When we look at circumstances with our physical eyes and our human logic, we are fearful. When we focus on the difficulties that surround us, it is easy to lose heart. That's why the Hebrews writer tells us to fix our eyes on Jesus. (12:2)

These are the eyes of our heart. These are the eyes of faith. These are the eyes that God can open to recognize his son and to assure our confidence, our hope.

This gives wonderful meaning to the words of the song we often sing . . . "Open the eyes of my heart, Lord, open the eyes of my heart! I want to see you. I want to see you . . . "

Approved

Some months ago I was buying books in my favorite book store. I handed the books to the clerk who scanned them into the cash register and then nodded to me to swipe my credit card through the device on my side of the counter.

After I swiped my card, I stood idly gazing at the device, waiting patiently for the series of steps that would comprise the transaction. Then the word APPROVED appeared on the diminuative screen.

I suppose that on most days I wouldn't have paid much attention to the fact that some authority somewhere had granted me permission to spend too much money on the armload of books I had gathered.

On that particular day, however, the word APPROVED spoke deep into my heart. I was stunned by the eternal, all-encompassing acceptance that filled me, "pressed down, shaken together, and overflowing."

Somehow, God's inescapable love for me echoed through my consciousness. It was rich and thick and almost tangible, and I glanced at the clerk and the other shoppers, thinking that surely they too were aware of God's message. It was hard to believe that they were oblivious.

Only when the people around me smiled back at me, did I realize that I was beaming. Only then, did I take note of the light-hearted, joyous feeling welling up from inside me. I am accepted. I am okay.

Suddenly, nothing else mattered.

God has chosen me. When I respond to His outstretched hand, I am approved. I'm imperfect, but I am accepted on the basis of the Christ's perfection.

And not only am I approved, accepted, acknowledged . . . I am invited into the family. I am adopted and made an heir. Not only am I accepted today, but I have a brilliant future ahead.

What an amazing blessing.

Stand there

While reading the Exodus story recently, I rediscovered a verse I had marked long ago. It is Exodus 14.14. God is giving Moses instructions on how to prepare for the Egyptian army's onslaught. "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

The footnote in my study bible comments on that verse: A necessary reminder that although Israel was "armed for battle" (13.18) and "marching out boldly" (v.8), the victory would be won by God alone.

This truth threads its way through the Bible, providing one of the consistent, clear messages we have about the character, the person of God.

Jonathan knows this. When he is bravely attacking the enemy, he states "Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few." I Sam14.6 He knows that his own efforts are within the larger context of God's action.

David knows this. When he stands up to Goliath, he says "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give all of you into our hands." I Sam 17.47 The battle belongs to the Lord.

When threatened by terrifying attacking armies, God's prophet tells Jehoshaphat, "the battle is not yours, but God's" and Jehoshaphat is so convinced that he marches out to meet the enemy with his singers out front -- singers shouting the praises of God! 2 Chron 20

In Ephesians, we are told to put on the armor of God, to dress for battle. It is a wonderful "call to arms" but once suited up for war, what are we told to do? Stand. Stand firm. And pray. Just as He told Moses to be still, we are told to stand.

We are called to line up on his side. We are chosen to be on the winning team. We are invited to rest in the power of his strong arm. Our fortress and our strength. It's up to us to respond to that call. It's up to us to wear the jersey, the uniform proudly, being identified as one of God's. But the hard work, the saving work belongs to God. We can't save ourselves. We can only stand by and watch Him work his saving miracle on our behalf.

I think this is hard for people raised in a culture that takes such pride in self-sufficiency, in pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps, in the can-do spirit. We want to wrestle control out of God's hands so that we can take charge and do it ourselves.

This is where we have to separate ourselves from our culture. We have to learn to be still and accept the fact that this is something we can't do for ourselves. The battle belongs to the Lord.

And when we align ourselves with Him, we are more than conquerors. After all, if God is for us, who can be against us? How amazing is that!? And nothing can separate us from his commitment to us. Romans 8:28-39

When I was a child I was often told 'Don't just stand there, do something.' Not long ago I heard that God might say to us, 'Don't DO something, just stand there.'

This does not mean that we are to shut down completely; we are called to good works. What it does mean is that our salvation is assured by the glorious work of God and He deserves my praise and adoration.

Be still and know that I am God. Ps 46:10

An excerpt

from Eat This Book by Eugene Peterson: (no comment from me needed!)

"What we must never be encouraged to do, although all of us are guilty of it over and over, is to force Scripture to fit our experience. Our experience is too small; it's like trying to put the ocean in a thimble. What we want is to fit into the world revealed by Scripture, to swim in this vast ocean.

"What we are after is first noticing and then participating in the way the large world of the Bible absorbs the much smaller world of our science and economics and politics that provides the so-called world-view in which we are used to working out our daily concerns.

"This means we have to abandon all condescending approaches to the Bible. Most of us have been trained in what is sometimes termed a "hermeneutics of suspicion." People lie a lot. And people who write lie more than most. We are taught to bring a healthy suspicion to everything we read, especially when it claims authority over us. What's going on here? What's the hidden agenda? What's behind all of this? The three modern masters of the hermeneutic of suspicion are Nietzsche, Marx, and Freud. They taught us well to take nothing at face value.

"Much of this is useful. We don't want to be taken in, manipulated by clever wordsmiths or enticed by skilled publicists and advertisers to buy things we don't want and will never use, involved in some soul-destroying program by a smooth-talking propagandist. In matters that have to do with God, we are doubly on our guard, suspicious of everything and everyone, including the Bible. We've learned to our sorrow that religious people lie more than most others -- and lies in the name of God are the worst lies of all.

"But as we narrow our eyes in suspicion, the world is correspondingly narrowed down. And when we take these reading habits to our reading of Holy Scripture, we end up with a small sawdust heap of facts.

"Paul Ricoeur has wonderful counsel for people like us. Go ahead, he says, maintain and practice your hermeneutics of suspicion. It is important to do this. Not only important, it is necessary. There are a lot of lies out there; learn to discern the truth and throw out the junk. But then reenter the book, the world, with what he calls "a second naivete." Look at the world with childlike wonder, ready to be startled into surprised delight by the profuse abundance of truth and beauty and goodness that is spilling out of the skies at every moment. Cultivate a hermeneutics of adoration -- see how large, how splendid, how magnificent life is.

"And then practice this hermeneutic of adoration in the reading of Holy Scripture. Plan on spending the rest of your lives exploring and enjoying the world both vast and intricate that is revealed by this text."