Mews from Meowmix

Bro. C. is called on to lead prayer in services a lot.  He’s a deacon and has been a Christian for many years.  Has an adult mentally-challenged son and is a good father to him, continuing on after the death of his wife and the boy’s mother.  But I enter into prayer with him with trepidation.  Why?

Somewhere in his prayer, he ALWAYS uses the phrase “we know your hear and answer our prayers if we pray according to Your will.” I’ve mentioned this before—–that this particular wording bothers me.  Maybe I should approach the subject with HIM instead of boring you guys with it again.  But……………

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that, most of the time, I pray “amiss.”  I pray to the best of my ability, but always feel that the power of the prayer is not in me but in the One to whom I pray.  I feel like I’m not the only one who may pray contrary to His will, selfishly, perhaps ignorantly…………and many other descriptive words I could use here.  I’ve wondered after hearing Bro. C.’s prayer again this morning if any of my prayers have ever been heard.  Have they really been answered or am I just kidding myself because, after all, I’ve probably prayed in a way that is not according to His will.

Jesus, in human form, prayed in a human way in the Garden of Gethsemane, didn’t He?  He prayed, “Father, if it be Thy will, let this cup pass from me.  But Thy will be done, and not mine.”  He was sweating drops of blood in grief and fear and pled with the Father that there might be a way to deliver Him from this task that He already knew He had come specifically to perform.  A task of mercy, grace, and service to mankind – who didn’t deserve it .  It was the reason He came.  He was God in human form.  And in His humanity, he feared what was ahead and asked for deliverance – “nevertheless, Thy will, not mine, be done.”

The times I pray amiss don’t equal the Lord’s time, of course.  But He is our example, our model.  And even He, on the cross, cried out to God, “Why have you forsaken me?”  Are we to believe His Father did not hear Him?  I’ve always believed the Father DID hear His son and DOES hear us but sometimes must remain silent.  Again, not in any way comparing my prayer life to that of my Lord.  His was perfect; mine is not.  But I take comfort in knowing He prayed in fear and anguish to have a cup removed from Him.

If God’s hearing and answering my prayers depend on the perfection of my prayers, I am sunk.

Comments?  Input?

TODAY’S SMILES:

1. Barney wanting us to chase him.
2. My friend, Cheryl.
3. Sunny Sundays.
4. Afternoon naps.
5. Making Doris a birthday cake.
6. My church family.

See you tomorrow night.  And may God bless.