“Prayer for Jesus is not about techniques, but trust.”

A thought by Leonard Sweet, (2014-02-21) from his book, The Well-Played Life: Why Pleasing God Doesn't Have to Be Such Hard Work (p. 186). Tyndale Momentum. Kindle Edition.

I know that people who don’t know me but who see me out walking the streets everyday think I am a homeless schizophrenic. Now I am neither but I do walk a lot and I do talk to someone while I am walking. I do a lot of praying while I walk. I had two occasions today when I was praying out loud and someone passed me. They didn’t look back but they did seem to walk a little faster.

Now that may not be the best technique but it works for me. I love walking and talking to my friend, Jesus. I found it very meaningful today. While I was walking and praying the first time I worked through an attitude I was having toward someone who was very hurtful and critical of my Pastor. God helped me through that time and gave me the assurance that He would encourage my Pastor and his family during this situation. I find conversing with God puts things in perspective.

And the other walk time I had I was praying for another extremely important person in my life and the stress of their day. I asked God to sustain them, to strengthen them and to guide them. He even encouraged me, letting me know that He was working in and through me and that He would use me in the tasks He has for me today.

Do you even take time to pray to your best friend, to let Him know your concerns, your bad attitudes, your hurts emotionally and physically? Do you trust Him like that or are you so concerned about doing prayer right?

I like how Leonard says it, “Jesus revolutionizes the practice of prayer, not by introducing new forms of prayer, but a new focus for praying. Prayer for Jesus is not about techniques, but trust. If we are to experience God as Jesus experiences God, which he instructed us to do, then Jesus’ experience of God was not one of Absolute Other or Ground of Being or even as Creator of the Cosmos. Jesus experiences God as the loving Parent who has entered into this unique relationship with humankind and delights in our presence.”

So what do you need to tell your Heavenly Father today?

Comments

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