A thought by Max Lucado from his book, Before Amen: The Power of a Simple Prayer (p. 6). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)
Max continues the thought, “Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer (Luke 11:1–4).”
“Could you use the same? It seems to me that the prayers of the Bible can be distilled into one. The result is a simple, easy-to-remember, pocket size prayer:
“Father, you are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Max then says, “Let this prayer punctuate your day. As you begin your morning, Father, you are good. As you commute to work or walk the hallways at school, I need help. As you wait in the grocery line, They need help. Keep this prayer in your pocket as you pass through the day.
He goes on, “Prayer, for most of us, is not a matter of a month-long retreat or even an hour of meditation. Prayer is conversation with God while driving to work or awaiting an appointment or before interacting with a client. Prayer can be the internal voice that directs the external action.
“This much is sure: God will teach you to pray. Don’t think for a minute that he is glaring at you from a distance with crossed arms and a scowl, waiting for you to get your prayer life together. Just the opposite. ‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you will eat with me’ (Rev. 3:20 NCV).
“Jesus waits on the porch. He stands on the threshold. He taps . . . and calls. He waits for you to open the door. To pray is to open it. Prayer is the hand of faith on the door handle of your heart. The willing pull. The happy welcome to Jesus: ‘Come in, O King. Come in.’ ‘The kitchen is messy, but come in.’ ‘I didn’t clean up, but come in.’ ‘I’m not much of a conversationalist, but come in.’
“We speak. He listens. He speaks. We listen. This is prayer in its purest form. God changes his people through such moments.
Max says, “He is changing me! Yes, I am a prayer wimp, but a recovering prayer wimp. Not where I long to be, but not where I was. My time in prayer has become my time of power. The Pocket Prayer has become a cherished friend. Its phrases linger in my thoughts like a favorite melody.
“Father, you are good. I need help. Heal me and forgive me. They need help. Thank you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
“When we invite God into our world, he walks in. He brings a host of gifts: joy, patience, resilience. Anxieties come, but they don’t stick. Fears surface and then depart. Regrets land on the windshield, but then comes the wiper of prayer. The devil still hands me stones of guilt, but I turn and give them to Christ. I’m completing my sixth decade, yet I’m wired with energy. I am happier, healthier, and more hopeful than I have ever been. Struggles come, for sure. But so does God.
He then says, “Prayer is not a privilege for the pious, not the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. My friend, he wants to talk with you. Even now, as you read these words, he taps at the door. Open it. Welcome him in. Let the conversation begin.”
Would you do that?
Yes, yes!
Comments
Post a Comment