Praying Right

                                                    

                                                                           Image: Scout Life Magazine

Prayer is a pillar or actually the cornerstone of Christian life.  A typical prayer may include giving thanks, intercession, blessings, praise etc. And we may ask for help with the problems and challenges we face.

Tom Clark from Life, Home and Truth has this to say - 

..."do we always pray for the right things? Let me illustrate this with a paraphrase of a story by Peggy Porter on usscouts.org that I read many years ago.

Eight-year-old Gilbert had only been in Cub Scouts a short while when the scoutmaster handed everyone a block of wood, four tires and a sheet of instructions, and told them to go home and “give it all to Dad.” Unfortunately, the dad part was not an option for Gilbert, so the block of wood sat untouched for days as a befuddled Gilbert struggled to figure out what to do.

Finally, without a better option, Gilbert’s mom sat down with Gilbert one evening to guide him in his quest to build a pinewood derby car. Having no carpentry skills, she decided to just read the directions and let Gilbert do the work.

Doing their best to adhere to the rules and measurements, little by little a car began to emerge from the block. The final product was lovingly painted blue, and though a little lopsided, it was a work of pride for both Gilbert and his mom, as they waited for the big day.

The night of the race, Gilbert and his mother showed up ready to go. Gilbert’s smile promptly fell when he saw all the other cars—sleek and stylish, with fancy paint jobs, flames and designs that came from the father and son duos (probably with more work done by the fathers than the sons). Some of the other boys giggled when they saw Gilbert’s unattractive and somewhat wobbly car. This couldn’t turn out well . . .

The race was done in elimination fashion, meaning you kept racing until you lost. To everyone’s shock, the final race came down between Gilbert’s lopsided creation and one of the sleekest and fastest-looking cars there. Just as the race was to begin, Gilbert quietly asked if he could stop to pray. With a nod of the head from the scoutmaster, he took his little car and prayed. After some awkward moments he handed his car back and said he was ready.

Seemingly in defiance of all the laws of physics, Gilbert’s uneven block of wood wobbled down the track to cross the line a fraction of a second before the other car. The scoutmaster bent over to Gilbert and asked, “So you prayed to win, right Gilbert?”

The 8-year-old quickly responded, “Oh, no sir. It wouldn’t be fair to ask God to help me beat someone else. I just asked Him to make it so I wouldn’t cry if I lose.”

This story illustrates a powerful point.

When faced with a challenging situation, the young boy didn’t pray and ask God to fix the outcome for him. He asked God to help him accept the results. He simply prayed for strength.

Is it possible that in our own prayers as we face challenges, we spend too much time telling God the outcome we want, asking for victory or perhaps asking that He remove a trial and take away the pain? When what we should be doing is asking Him for the strength and dignity we need to get through the struggle with faith intact?

There is nothing wrong with beseeching our Father with our requests, but it is also important that we ask for the strength to endure what He knows is ultimately best for us.

Gates and Fences

Growing up there was no television and going to the movies was a treat. The daily entertainment came from reading books. Two such book are ones I will never forget - All things bright and beautiful and All creatures Great and Small by James Heriot, a vet surgeon in rural England. 

His books are about his daily experiences as a vet and  Gods creation, farm animals, birds and other creatures in our daily life, as well as the challenges they face as do their owners and farmers. One common picture which will keep popping up is that of fences on farms, pens and enclosures where the animals are kept safe. A gate left open accidentally can result in tragedy for the animal, so the farmer makes sure all gates are shut. In case it is not and animals stray, they are sitting targets for wolves, speeding cars and other dangers, so the farmer immediately goes after the strays and tries to bring them back to safety.

This is much like our own shepherd who may leave 100 of us while we are in the safety of Gods hedge of protection, or fence, and goes after one lost person to bring them back to safety.
That the hedge, or wall or tent, of protection is a reality is clearly mentioned in Job where Satan states to God Job 1:10 “Have you not put a hedge (of protection) around him and his household and everything he has? "
This protection from God happens in 3 spheres - from outside elements, from ourselves and from our tendency to rebel and disobey.
Speaking from personal experience, This protection is so powerful it can move mountains of trouble. It is invoked not only when we ask, but is active 24x7. It protects even when we are not aware we need protection.
Today, if this is not a part of your daily prayer, we suggest you make it a daily ask. Just as we ask to be delivered from evil - which includes sickness, dangers, ill intentions as well as our own desires, allowing us to live less fearfully and more meaningfully.
Books by James Herriot in case you are interested.
All Things Bright and Beautiful:
The Classic Memoirs of a Yorkshire Country Vet https://amzn.in/d/0bBfgB5U
All Creatures Great and Small: The classic memoirs of a Yorkshire country vet https://amzn.in/d/01zGaC6l

Our Addictions

                                 
Addiction is so prevalent in the world today that it encompasses nearly a quarter of the world. And if we add food addiction that figure would probably be three fourths. Food addiction will probably include you and me.

Addicts of all kinds are looked down on, sometimes with sympathy and sometimes with disgust. Seldom with empathy. Addicts need to be treated not with sympathy or disgust but with kindness and support.

Pastor David Jacobs says -

"No matter where you are from, if you are old enough, you have been exposed to some form of addiction. Whether you have battled addiction yourself as I have or you have seen it grip somebody that you know, the depths of addiction and the hold that it can have on people is terrifying. Knowing all that we do about addiction and the harms that it brings, how are we not more wary of it? How do we not do more to resist its temptations? The enemy is stronger than we imagine, prowling like a lion on helpless prey. This is true if and only if we remove the valuable defenses and ignore the lessons of people before us and of God.

I have struggled mightily with my own addictions. During my darkest times, it was so easy for me to point a finger at something or someone else to blame them for my actions. I was weak, ignoring the roars of the devil, making myself as easy a target as possible. If you are like me, do not give up! We have armor! It is a gift forged by the word of our Heavenly Father, delivered to us by his only son Jesus of Nazareth! It is an armor of the righteous, defending against addiction, evil, and weakness! In the darkest times when we can hear the deafening roar of the devil, we must turn to the teachings of God, and in this our hearts will be fortified".

At the end of the day, addictions can only be battled by the individual, by practicing self control, and self control can be strengthened by God's love and His word. Others can help, support and encourage, but the strength has to come from within. 

God teaches you to resist worldly passions and anything which is not godly, including alcohol addiction, food addiction, drug addiction etc. It also inspires you to maintain self-control and good morals and to build a closer relationship with God.

“It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.”
 

Rejection is an Illusion

Who has the power to reject you? Isn't rejection a judgement? And who in this human world can judge? 

Unfortunately, we all do, belying what Jesus taught or tried to teach. Judging others seems to be second nature to us.

The question is why we do it.

Firstly, we build our own castles by bringing others down. For example, some public speakers comment adversely on their audience to make a point, thereby positioning themselves higher than the audience, so that the audience accepts their views without question.

Secondly, it sometimes helps to fit in the crowd. If 5 people we know don't like someone, we too pretend so that we may fit in and build a bond.

And sometimes it may just be a self defense mechanism, not to get close enough to someone so you don't get hurt, therefore we build a justification for that by a negative judgement.

Lastly, and this is a universal fact, we all have a perception that we are entitled. No. We are not. That's an illusion we have created about ourselves.

So when we reject someone, it's not really valid because the reasons for that rejection are totally one sided, selfish, illusionary and invalid. Similarly, when we stand rejected ( as we will be time and again) we must remember that our rejection too is an illusion built on some perception or threat.

That is exactly what happened to the woman apparently caught in adultery whom the Pharisees wanted to stone to death as per mosaic law. When confronted with their own sin, thier self perception of being keepers of the law broke as well, prompting them to abandon thier judgement.

But judging people is dangerous. It can be habit forming making. It can be disastrous for our professional and personal life. Politicians judge people who don't vote for them; company honchos can make suicidal decisions if they don't understand habits of some customers. The principle of success and successful relationships is to put ourselves in the other person's shoes helping us to understand rather than judge.

But to do that we need to think and that's something we don't do. Like Carl Jung said

“Thinking is difficult, that’s why most people judge.” 

Similarly, if someone has judged us, remember it's not us but they who need to prove something. When some says "oh he/she is an alcoholic and do not deserve to come here' they are actually saying - " I am a better person because I am not an alcoholic and therefore I deserve to be here'. They have made someone's alcoholism, or any other weakness, a steppingstone for themselves. Many times, people have used judgement as an excuse for rejection of any help to someone else and many, many times rejection is the path for self-survival. 

With this background, know that rejection will never change how much God loves each one of us. It will never touch his goodness, his mercy, or his kindness. It will never make God further away from us. He empathizes and it will not change His love. He enters our pain. 

And for the times we are tempted to judge and reject someone, always remember this verse from 
James 2:13- 
"13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment."

But the greatest and most powerful assurance is the promise God has made to each one of us personally - 

“Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!"

No. I believe I am God's child. 

Heal and Restore

"We live in a broken world". 

These are words which we often read or hear and which reflect the fact that a majority of humans are either disappointed in life or broken hearted or simply down and out. They do not experience peace And that is exactly what Christians are mandated to do. Not condemn but to heal and restore. As Jasmin Patterson says we need to stop acting like critics and start acting like intercessors.

In fact, It is our bounden duty towards fellow humans, mandated by God and enabled by Jesus Christ. Gods restoring power is one of the greatest promises from Scripture and something we can carry to everyone.

Ms Patterson also refers to Ezekial story. How we can partner with God to heal the broken. Do our part to sow seeds of life, hope and transformation however we can with our resources, relationships and sphere of influence.

Like Sarah, if God has made us laugh, we need to make people around us laugh too.

And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me. — Genesis 21:6

Similarly if we are healed, we can bring healing. We can be thier change through prayer and support.

Often we look at needs and say “someone should do something about that. Well today you and I can do something: pray. Interceded. And if there is something more we are enabled to do then do it.

In a classic western movie, I remember a dialogue by a cowboy, "if you want to shoot then shoot. Don't talk." So, if we want to do something about the problems and brokenness of this world then do it. Let's not simply talk.

86,400 Seconds

                                            

Man lives his or her life in moments, not in years, though we do celebrate birthdays. In actuality, life is lived in moments. We often miss fully living in the present moment because we are so busy rehashing the past or rehearsing the future. 

Our days are numbered as is our breadth. We could be happily alive one moment, and moved on the next, leaving our near and dear ones, our riches and all our material glory behind. The material outcome of each one of us is the same: ashes and dust and onto eternal life minus all we have known. Meanwhile I can either strike off the day or moments I have lived or add each day of my life to my treasure of days lived (Robert Brault).

Therefore, each moment of life is to be celebrated; with joyous gratitude and celebrating those moments with sharing a piece of ourselves. William Arthur Ward pointed this out and famously said

"God gave you a gift of 86,400 seconds today. Have you used one to say 'thank you'?"

Keep in mind the old saying. “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is God’s gift, and that’s why we call it the present.”

Does God have a sense of humor?

Good question, but the answer depends very much on the definition of humor. Perhaps the best indication that God does have a sense of humor is that He created man in His image (Genesis 1:27), and certainly people are able to perceive and express humor. 

The American Heritage Dictionary defines a “sense of humor” as “...The ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is comical or funny.” According to this definition, then, God must show an ability to perceive, enjoy, or express what is comical. The difficulty is that people perceive what is comical differently, and what sinful man perceives as funny would not amuse a holy and perfect God. Much of what the world calls humor is not funny but is crass and crude. Our humor is expressed at the expense of others (tearing down rather than building up), again something contrary to God’s Word.
To understands Gods sense of humor let us look at His word - the Bible and its historical narratives.
Here we find a humorous side in many, many situations. Imagine Jonah being brought back when he was running away. Or remember Balam and Balak? While Balak is surely drawn as a caricature of a monarch, their ridiculous stance is increasingly absurd with each stupidly unresponsive reaction.
Going further, what about the satire of Jotham in his story about the trees? Though in that day, as in every subsequent age, there was no room for a satirist in the kingdom of an incompetent ruler.
What about Elijah's ridicule of "the priests of Baal who wailed and slashed themselves in the hope that Baal would send fire from Heaven. "Shout louder!...Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling; or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened!" (1 Kings 18:27). Infact, an Indian person can surely understand the sarcasm in the answer "I am who I am" which is actually a retort when translated into Hindi.
In the NT think about when Rhoda finds Peter at her door, she gets so excited she forgets to open the door!
Hyers says "Jesus freely used humor, irony and satire" and offers the examples of "the blind leading the blind; straining out a gnat, then swallowing a camel; meticulously cleaning the outside of a cup while leaving the inside filthy; maintaining whitewashed tombs that are outwardly beautiful but inwardly full of dead men's bones; loudly honoring past prophets while plotting to kill present ones who preach the same message."  These are examples of what Whedbee describes as "Jesus as the cynic sage."
The Bible has inspired a multitude of art and fiction in many genres, including humor and comedy. William Shakespeare's comedy The Merchant of Venice includes elements from the Book of Daniel. Biblical references can be seen in films with Charlie Chaplin and Laurel and Hardy. Modern examples include Monty Python's Life of Brian, and sketches by Rowan Atkinson.
But what I find most funny is the thought of weak and silly man trying to match wits with an almighty and all-knowing God; it is comical, and I can just picture God smiling indulgently as He watches our feeble attempts.

Never Abandoned

Rabindranath Tagore, an Indian poet, writer and composer of the Indian National Anthem said -
"Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man"

It is inevitable that at some point in our life we face being left alone. By parents, by a spouse, friends and family. The reasons could be one of many - most common being death. As an adult, the pain and sense of abandonment can be overwhelming as can be insecurity and hopelessness. 

Yet two things come to mind in such a situation. Two verses which can rebuild hope and life.

John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

King James Version

And then you have Isiaah 40:31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

These two verses give me hope that we are never abandoned. The first verse tells me that God chose me and if He chose me, He will never abandon me. God is not illogical. He made me intricately, scientifically, in a way we are still trying to understand. He took great pains to create me to fulfil a purpose or plan. Therefore, He will make sure that He takes care of me, using whatever means or whichever people.

These verses give a lot of hope, confidence and security provided that we fulfil a condition in the second verse - "waiting on the Lord". Essentially it means that we Acknowledge God's sovereign control of all things, come to terms with our dependence upon God and Seek spiritual strength from the Him.

Because of the first quoted verse, we know that God delights in each one of us, whatever we do or say. Jesus is not only our hope, but He is also God's hope, that through Him, we find our way back to Him and live under His shadow. Our trials are the road back to Him not to abandonment.

Today, if you are facing some loss, rejection and going through a sense of abandonment, pick up the Word and get to know who you are and who is your father in heaven. A quick reminder is this verse in Isiaah 41:10

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

Quotable Quotes: A God Lead Life

                                      

Sometimes, simple quotes from people can be more effective than the longest or best of sermons. A couple of lines can leave a lasting impact, simplifying some of the most complicated messages. Today we bring you some quotes around the theme - A God Lead Life

1. Coincidence is Gods way of remaining Anonymous - Albert Einstein . (For all those who believe in coincidences),

2. Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is whether I am on Gods side, for God is always right. - Abraham Lincoln.

3. Life is Gods novel. Let Him write it - Isaac Singer

4. We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature - trees, flowers, grass- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence... We need silence to be able to touch souls. - Mother Teresa

5. There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.' - C. S. Lewis

6. God has entrusted me with myself - Epictetus

7. God has given us two hands - one to receive and the other to give - Billy Graham.

8. The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quiet, alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be - Anne Frank

9. Our heavenly Father understands our disappointment, suffering, pain, fear, and doubt. He is always there to encourage our hearts and help us understand that He's sufficient for all of our needs. When I accepted this as an absolute truth in my life, I found that my worrying stopped - Charles Stanley

10. Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God - Mary Manin Morrissey

A "Tick in the Box" Life

The phrase "A tick in the box" is used to refer to a way of doing things that involves following rules or instructions that are the same in every case, with no possibility of someone using their own sense, knowledge or ability to do something. Today the question is: Do we lead "tick in the box" lives? 

David Jacobs says this: 
"If you and/or your family is anything like mine, the act of prayer has become repetitive. We say a quick prayer before eating, sometimes go to church and say quick prayers that we read off the bulletin, and overall any time that we pray it is of very little meaning or consequence. There is not an ounce of focus spent on the words and meaning of the prayer. It is almost like we are not even there. What do we want from these prayers? What are we asking for?"
You see it’s not the atheist who is a hypocrite, it’s the apathetic believer who is satisfied with the “whitewash” of the lifestyle and social standing of being part of a church community. And that is exactly what Jesus meant when He said 

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.” Matthew 23:27.
True devotion to God is something that is done inwardly, not merely on the outside.
God does not need, want, or ask for mindlessly repeated prayers. Long prayers, complex words, high sounding praises don't really matter. We don't need to use just the right words for Him to understand (Romans 8:26). What we do need is to communicate in sincerity and humility. God knows what we need before we even ask. We can speak to Him simply and openly, and He will hear, understand, and respond (Hebrews 4:15–16). He will hear and does hear the cries of our hearts. 

What we need to do is focus more on being more like Him in spirit and deed and less on ticking the boxes.