Theme for 2008
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances,
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:16-18
Pastor’s Word for April 2008
Dear Friends,
prayer, ie addressing God, is the product of believing that he listens to humans and that he will act just because of it. We know that Jesus in saying “when you pray” assumed, not hoped, that we would pray. Jesus taught that we should pray things which were consistent with God’s character, ie that God could deliver:
there is no point in asking the Lord to help us to steal our neighbour’s car, for instance.
The American television interviewer and journalist Larry King, in his book ‘Powerful Prayers’, describes three farmers who get together daily in a field during a prolonged drought. The men are down on their knees, looking upward, and praying desperately that rain will come. Unfortunately nothing happens, and although the farmers are discouraged, they persist with this every morning.
One morning an uninvited stranger approaches and asks the men what they are doing. They respond, “We’re praying for rain.” The newcomer looks at each of them and shakes his head, “No, I don’t think so.” The first farmer says, “Of course we’re praying. We are down on our knees pleading for rain. Look around; see the drought. We haven’t had rain in more than a year!” The outsider continues to nod his head and advises them their efforts will never work. The second farmer jumps in and says, “We need the rain; we aren’t asking only for ourselves, but for our families and cattle.” The man listens, nods, and says he still isn’t impressed. “You’re wasting your time,” he says. The third farmer can’t take any more, and angrily says, “Okay, what would you do if you were in our shoes the visitor asks, “You really want to know The three farmers answer, “We really want to know! the future of our farms is at stake.”
The guest announces, “I would have brought an umbrella!” Is it prayer if we don’t pray believing? Is there any point in praying if we don’t believe? Jesus assumes that we will truly pray, so shall we do it?