Philip Yancey’s book Prayer: Does It make Any Difference? opens with this:
“When a doctoral student at Princeton asked, ‘What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?’ Albert Einstein replied, ‘Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.’”
But maybe what we need to know about prayer is not from a dissertation or even from the brilliance of Einstein!
Maybe as King David wrote in Psalm 131, what we need is humble, childlikeness.
[box] A song of ascents. Of David. “My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.“[/box]
With that in mind I wrote a childlike prayer for this third week of Lent. I offer this prayer for you to use. And this is the prayer I will pray for you for the next week.
Father,
I feel like a child. Wobbly in faith as if I’ve just learned it. By turns I’m ungrateful, joyful, distracted, attentive, bewildered, amazed, and flustered. I’m fearful to tow my small worries, needs, and concerns before you.
Compared to the needs of the world, peace, justice, healing from the virus, feeding the hungry, lifting the downtrodden, my needs resemble a child’s toy-store wish list.
Please take these colossal requests in your hand because only you are able.
But You also said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”
So here am I. Hear my cry.
In a world of more than six billion people, I’m lonely. Come close. Hold my heart.
I’m desperate for life to feel normal. To smile and be smiled at. To touch and be touched. Breathe on me.
I’m blind, in an earth filled with beauty. Pry my eyes open. Train my thoughts on what is pure, good, and lovely.
I want to see Your redemption, Your grace, Your new life bursting forth.
In a city filled with signs, Google maps, pundits galore, I’m lost. Direct my way.
I need laughter, lightness, a promise for the end of the day. I need sleep with dreams filled with dancing and song.
I crave to hear Your voice. Speak.
Please share this prayer with your friends who need to let their childlike hearts be heard.
Lord, at this time, as Eugene says, there are so many things going on that distract us from the simplicity of our love for you, and your love for us,… and as he reminds us, Philippians 4:8 recommends that we think on things that are true, pure, good and lovely,… amen, Lord,… then what are we to do about all the “noise” and examples around us that are so obviously not “of your kingdom?”,…
Matthew 11:29 says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”,… amen, Lord,… I see examples of things daily that are “not of your kingdom”,… I am learning that there are many things in the world that people say, do, think and believe, that are not in accordance with your will or heart,…
truly, you are a God who leads us into peace,… in Romans 12:18-20, you advise us, “18 If possible, live in peace with everyone. Do that as much as you can. 19 My dear friends, don’t try to get even. Leave room for God to show his anger. It is written, “I am the God who judges people. I will pay them back,” (Deuteronomy 32:35) says the Lord. 20 Do just the opposite. Scripture says,
“If your enemies are hungry, give them food to eat.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
By doing those things, you will pile up burning coals on their heads.” (Proverbs 25:21,22)
anger, revenge, hatred, lies, murderous thoughts and actions, even confusion, directed personally by the hands of negative and willful human beings, do not represent “your will”, Lord,… 1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”
Teach us to Trust in you,… Proverbs 3:5,6 “5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”,… Lord, I trust in you,… amen,…