some of the creational havoc wreaked by Hurricane Erin
“Well, we just stayed inside and thought happy thoughts.” I will never forget what one woman told me after one of the more famous hurricanes hit Pensacola back in 1995. After repenting of my condescension, I just felt sad. She didn’t know about a God who promises that glory and redemption will come even as part of every trial and temptation. She did not know about asking God that “his name be hallowed” or “his will be done.” Thinking happy thoughts was her form of hope, and in fact, it was a pretty darned hopeful thing to do when I thought about it.
I thought of the great gift of Christian prayer as I read John Stott’s introduction to the Lord’s prayer:
“Do not be like them [the pagans], for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:8
“The reason why Christians are not to pray like pagans is that we believe in the living and true God. We are not to do as they do because we are not to think as they think. On the contrary, “Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” He is neither ignorant of our needs nor hesitant to meet them. Why, then, should we pray? What is the point of prayer? Let Calvin answer our questions with his customary clarity:
“Believers do not pray with the view to informing God about things unknown to him, or of exciting him to do his duty, or of urging him as though he were reluctant. On the contrary, they pray in order that they may arouse themselves to seek him, that they may exercise their faith in meditating on his promises, that they may relieve themselves from their anxieties by pouring them into his bosom; in a word that they may declare that from him alone they hope and expect, both for themselves, and others, good things.” From John Stott’s Through the Bible through the Year
Something to try:
Pray the Lord’s prayer, slowly, aloud. Or try writing it out. Think about each sentence you are saying and connect it to the cosmos, your community, and your own life. Reflect on God and who He is and what He’s doing in this world. I’d love to hear some of your discoveries in the comments section.
Our Father,
who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done.
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
Forever and ever. Amen
