Thought for the Week

As I think on “things we lose,” I am not talking about car keys or the remote control but more important things. I am thinking about spiritual blessings. Things like “peace,” “contentment,” and a host of other things. In the hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”, one line proposes, “O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear”, and the reason given is, “All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.” Scripture invites us to come apart from the world and rest/abide in Jesus. He promises He will give us His peace. We need to come to Him for this peace, the world cannot give it, thankfully, nor can the world take it away. But we can forfeit it by not receiving it from Jesus. Certainly the world we live in is fraught with stress, turmoil, and trouble. But Christ faced these same pressures and He overcame them. He can help us to overcome also if we will come to Him in prayer. The second thought is that we bear needless pain. Worry is one of those pains. I Peter 5:7 tells us to cast all our cares (worries) on Him (Jesus) because He cares for us. A runner in a race does not carry a back pack or wear galoshes. He wisely frees himself of anything that would hinder him in running the race. In the race of life, we also should eliminate anything that would hinder us. We can give these hindrances to Jesus in prayer. In his letter, James tells us, “You have not because you ask not.” He further reminds us that we must ask with the right motives and for the right things, but when we ask in faith, God is gracious and gives us even more abundantly than we ask or think. Once, Jesus’ disciples were frustrated because a father brought his demon-possessed son to them to cast out the demon and they could not. They challenged Jesus as to why. His reply was “this kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.” How often we are frustrated because we fail to pray when we are engaged even in good activities. God wants to be a part of our activities and certainly deserves the glory, from us and from others, because it is He Who provides the wisdom and strength involved in doing these good works. Israel was not destroyed at Mount Sinai because Moses prayed for them when they had turned away from God and to an idol Aaron had made for them. The presumption was that this idol would represent God but it most certainly did not. Moses prayed and Israel was saved. I wonder how often people do not receive a blessing or blessings because we did not intercede for them in prayer. So, we can lose things by not praying, others can lose things because we did not pray for them, God can lose the opportunity to bless because we do not pray. We don’t mind losing some things, i.e. a few pounds. But some very important things are lost because we do not pray. Perhaps you think you cannot pray. You can. There are conditions attached to prayer but basically, it is no more difficult than asking directions at a gas station, asking the butcher for a cut of meat, telling your child it is time for bed. Prayer should be simply a conversation between two friends or neighbors. God wants us to pray. He encourages prayer. He waits for it with patience. Don’t lose out on good things because of lack of prayer. God’s Holy Spirit helps Christians to pray. Ask Him for help.

Scriptures to Read

Psalm 6:9

Psalm 66:19-20

St. Matthew 18:19-20

Isaiah 65:24

St. Luke 11:9

Isaiah 58:9

Romans 8:26