Praying for the President

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As news broke that the President has COVID, I began seeing some conservative friends post about the need to "pray" for his speedy recovery and condemning liberals who are supposedly wishing for Trump's death. I agree we should pray for the President, but how to pray is a deeper issue. 

First, I am sure that a lot of these posts about liberals wanting Trump to die are somewhat driven by bots and algorithms because I have yet to see any of my liberal or progressive friends on social media say these things. They may critique the President's lack of precautions or see this result as a natural consequence of his actions, but I have not seen the wishes or prayers for him to die as these memes and posts would make us believe are widespread. Are there people who are hoping Trump dies? I'm sure. The comments sections anywhere on the internet are filled with both conservatives and liberals who make similar wishes of their opponents; this is not unique to a political side. For example, comments sections regarding Chrissy Teigens' miscarriage will show you conservatives and pro-lifers rejoicing in her suffering under claims of "God's judgment" and that "she deserved it." Desiring suffering and death for our enemies is a human condition, not a political one. My fear is that creating a straw man with posts that presume a majority of liberals want Trump to die from COVID is not helpful to our public discourse, when in reality many (perhaps most, including Biden) are wishing and even praying for a recovery. Bad apples are out there, but let's not create a boogeyman. 

However, when I first saw Trump supporters and evangelicals advocating for others to "pray for the President's quick recovery," there was something inside of me that initially recoiled. I've had the same reaction over the past few years whenever I see politically charged memes calling on Christians to "pray for the President" in various capacities. It's taken me a day or two to sort out why. 

After thinking about it, the reason for my apprehension was not because I believe we shouldn't pray for our President, but rather because the surrounding context makes such calls seem (even if unintentional) simplistic and shallow. 

What I mean is that, while I've seen both conservatives and liberals offer their prayers for a recovery, the strongest calls for prayers for the President's health have come from many of the same people who have consistently backed Trump and refused to criticize him or hold him accountable. Often these are the same people who feel it is their duty to frequently remind their political opponents (using 1 Timothy 2) that they should be praying for the President's success. At the same time, there was often silence about offering the same kinds of prayers for Obama, or at least with much less enthusiasm. 

This is the crucial context. When some Christians give enthusiastic support on a regular basis to a President the majority of Americans see as immoral, corrupt, and cruel, praise him as the "greatest President ever," and fail to EVER offer critiques, people begin to question the morality of your faith. As I've said before, I believe this uncritical and enthusiastic support for Trump from many evangelicals is driving the final nails into the coffin of the church's moral authority and integrity in the eyes of outsiders (and of many insiders). In that context, your calls to pray for Trump ring hollow and are heard by many as just another partisan ploy. I personally don't doubt the sincerity of my fellow believers, but without a prophetic denouncing of Trump's wrongs or equal calls for prayers for your own enemies, such words fall flat. 

Another reason for my reaction is that such calls to prayer seem simplistic and even a bit condescending. Again, given the context, someone who doesn't care for Trump or has been appalled by him over the past 5 years could easily read these posts as "If you don't pray for Trump to quickly recover and get back to his agenda then you are unChristian!" I know that is not likely the intent, but we also know that a big motivation for Trump supporters in praying for the President's recovery is so Trump's agenda or election chances are not ruined. That's simply not going to be a motivation for Trump critics. 

Indeed, if we oversimplify prayer for our leaders, I also think we do a disservice to Scripture. A holistic look a prayer in Scripture reveals a great diversity. 

At one extreme, you have the imprecatory Psalms--prayers for the downfall and destruction of one's enemies and oppressors. 

Psalm 137 reads "Happy is the one who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks." 

Psalm 109 says, "May his days be few; may another take his place of leadership. May his children be fatherless and his wife a widow."

Psalm 10 reads "Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none." 

Psalm 83 prays that cruel "nobles" and "princes" would be destroyed and "become like dung on the ground." That language doesn't square well with the typical insistence on 1 Tim 2:1-2. 

A concern I have with Trump-voting evangelicals who publicly call on people to pray for Trump's recovery is that they do not consider those who feel harmed and oppressed by this President. I have spoken to and listened to many over the past 4 years who are experiencing heightened fear because of the culture of anger and racism Trump has created against people who look like them. There is little question that the President's flip-flopping on the pandemic, ignoring of scientific advice, and contradiction of his own officials and advisors has likely resulted in several thousand additional deaths that could have been prevented. Others of us are simply disgusted by his lying, cruelty, bullying, and attraction to pride and rage that have real-world consequences. 

The fact is that this President has hurt many people, and many people in this country (including millions of Christians) are longing for the day when he will be out of office. If we take on a healthy view of biblical prayer, then we will not tell people to quickly ignore those feelings of anger and despair, but rather to take them to God. Maybe the first step of healthy prayer for those who oppose the President is being brutally honest with God, even if that honesty, like the imprecatory psalms, admits that they are hoping the virus will claim his life.

 
Likewise, I have spent a lot of time recently reading through both the Psalms and the prophets. The prophets, like in many psalms, call out kings and leaders for idolatry and injustice and warn of consequences for kings who do not heed those calls. For example, in 2 Kings 1, when the wicked King Ahaziah has an accident and lies in his bed dying, he sends messengers to the prophet Elijah to ask God if he'll recover. Elijah's response (multiple times) is "you shall not leave your bed; you will surely die." Elijah offers no prayers for recovery (at least that are reported) because the king has long proven his lack of allegiance to God. 

Similarly, in countless oracles issued by nearly all of the prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, Amos, etc.) oppressive rulers of other nations are promised downfall as a result of their actions. Perhaps the prophets prayed for wisdom for these leaders and peace for their nation first, but after years of consistent injustice and idolatry there was also an understanding in their prayers that God will deal with unrepentant sin. As citizens of God's Kingdom before any other, the US President should get the same treatment and accountability as any other world leader. 

For those of us who do not line up to support the President, we see years of unrepentant sin and idolatry. Just because he throws out phrases and causes that we evangelicals like doesn't mean the man should be emulated or even has our best interests in mind. He has famously bragged about never having repented, and I can't remember a single time in the past 4 years he has issued an apology for any of his countless scandals or sinful words (if I'm wrong I'll apologize for that assumption). 

 
Even though idols of wood and stone may not exist, Trump is no less ruled by idolatry. His idols are pride, wealth, vanity, anger, revenge, and power. He may not have an Asherah pole at his house, but I suspect he's worshipped before a stripper pole before. And these are not all just past faults; many continue daily. Those that are in the past are ones he has never repented of and sees no reason to. Individuals who are more than happy to offer praise and prayer for the President should consider the depth of frustration among the rest of us. Have empathy; put yourself in our shoes. 

Now, if you think I'm going to say after all this that we should pray for Trump's death, you'd be wrong. As I said above, we should come to prayer with an honesty about how we are feeling, and that includes space for those who hope he dies as well. However, for those of us who claim to follow Jesus, we are living on this side of the cross and resurrection. That means we also follow a King (a true "President" if you will) who calls us to "turn the other cheek," put aside anger, "love our enemies," and "pray for those who persecute us." After we've been honest with God and wrestled with our feelings, we should also strive to pray for our opponent's well-being as hard as it may be. 

 
Indeed, the call of Jesus pulls us toward embrace and empathy. This is especially true with COVID. In the past few days I’ve been reminded of the horrors of this disease. Just today, I received a call from a friend whose father was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance because of his oxygen levels due to COVID. I also saw on Facebook today that a community member I knew just passed away from the disease. As I consider the frightening prospect of a diagnosis for families and the pain of loss thousands have already experienced, I lean on these stories to gain empathy for our flawed President whose own family is likely experiencing their own fears and concerns. 

But one final note is also important (Thanks to Chris Dodson for your recent Facebook post that helped me put my thoughts together here). Throughout Scripture there is also a refrain in prayers and songs asking God to "reverse" the world. Kings and oppressive powers should be brought low, and the humble should be raised up. 

You see is in Miriam's and Moses' Song of the Sea (Exo 15): "In the greatness of Your majesty You threw down those who opposed You. You unleashed Your burning anger; it consumed them like stubble....But You will bring your people in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance." 

You see it in the Beatitudes, especially in Luke's version (Luke 6):
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh....
“But woe to you who are rich, for you have already received your comfort. But Woe to you who are well fed now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you, for that is how their ancestors treated the false prophets."

You see it in Mary's Magnificat (Luke 1): 

"He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty." 

All of these Scriptural pleadings for the mighty to fall are not simply vindictive wishes, but, especially on this side of the cross, they should also carry a hope of justice for the hurting and redemption for the proud and mighty. Like Moses pleading with Pharaoh to soften his heart and avoid destruction, we should hope that the downfall of our own opponents and those who act immorally and unjustly should lead to humility. Adversity and downfall should open their eyes to their complicity in pain and help them see God for the first time. 

Two nights ago I read the story of Manasseh, one of the final evil kings of Judah. He completely reversed the spiritual reforms of his father, Hezekiah, and brought the nation back into idolatry and injustice. And after God spoke to him through prophets calling him to repent, he refused and God allowed the king of Assyria to attack Jerusalem and to capture Manasseh, dragging him away with "hooks" and chains. 

However, there is a part of Manasseh's story I had forgotten about until reading it again. In 2 Chronicles 33:10-16 it details how, while in captivity, Manasseh "humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers." God then allowed the humbled king to return to Jerusalem, at which point "Manasseh knew that the LORD was God." And it seems to have stuck. In the final years of his reign, Manasseh removed the idols from his house, destroyed false altars, and began offering sacrifices to the true God once again. 

The story of Manasseh illustrates how I think those of us who cannot abide Trump should pray. Yes, we should pray for a recovery because Donald Trump is also made in the image of God, even as marred as that image may be. As such, his life is also precious in God's eyes. However, we also cannot turn a blind eye to his idolatries, lies, pride, vanity, cruelty, lusts, greed, anger, and words and policies that continue to oppress our neighbors. So, I also pray that this sickness would bring him low, that it would humble him. 

Because if when you say "Pray for the President's recovery," you mean "pray he recovers so things can get back to normal," I want no part of those prayers. I, and a majority of Americans, are sick of his behavior and lack of integrity. Christians like myself are frustrated with his immorality and amazed by our fellow evangelicals who seem to excuse and give passes for it. We don’t want a return to “normal” Trump. Something has got to give. 

I have prayed for years that Trump would show maturity, wisdom, prudence, and peace. I have prayed he would stand up for all vulnerable people in this country, not just the unborn ones when it’s politically convenient. It has not happened. And in the face of no behavior change, no repentance, and no signs of changing course, the only thing I have left is that God would do something drastic in his life to open his eyes. I pray he would be humbled like Manasseh so that he knows God is King. I pray that in the middle of distress and suffering that he would learn the empathy for his fellow Americans he has often seemed to ignore. I pray that being brought low by a virus which does not care whether you are rich or poor, powerful or weak, conservative or liberal, would teach him humility, patience, gratitude, and compassion. 

Now, if you want to simply pray for the President to recover quickly, that is fine, and you should pray as your conscience and the Holy Spirit leads. But realize that many of your fellow Christians already find it difficult to pray for this man and are struggling for the right way to pray for him. So don't guilt them for not praying your way or be offended when they don't pray exactly like you. 

Yes, pray for the President at this time, but don't expect the prayers of others to match yours. Don't reduce prayer to a political spectacle or weapon. My allegiance is to another King, and the prayers of that Kingdom are deeper than most of us tend to imagine.

 

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Do I Fast?

I was recently asked by a friend whether or not I fast. After looking at her oddly since the question seemed to come out of nowhere, I answered that I do sometimes fast. She then asked me what I thought about fasting. My short answer to her was that I don't fast because it is somehow the "holy" thing super-Christians do, or because I am trying to get something from God. I choose to fast when I feel I have no other choice with which to respond to particular moments in life. In other words, I fast when it seems to be the natural response.

My theology of fasting has been greatly shaped by the work of Scot McKnight. I really began to develop a deeper understanding of this ancient Christian practice when reading his book on fasting from The Ancient Practices Series. In McKnight's words, fasting "is the natural, inevitable response of a person to a grievous sacred moment in life [emphasis mine]."

As he explains, biblical fasting begins with an encounter of a "grievous sacred moment." It is this experience that prompts a person to fast. A person responding to such events only receives benefits after they respond to a prior event (and even then blessings are not guaranteed to always happen). McKnight consistently argues that the reaped benefits are not the point of fasting. We do not fast in order to get closer to God, to change our circumstances, or to get our prayers answered (although these things often do happen when we fast). Rather, we fast because we feel led to do so by our circumstances. We fast because it seems like the natural reaction to particular moments in our lives.

So, yes I do fast, but only when I feel like it is natural for me to do so. I fast during those "grievous sacred moments." A loved one dies. A friend is sick. My ministry faces challenges and frustrations. A church is divided by conflict. A country is burdened by bloodshed and war. These are the moments when I fast. I fast because my soul grieves. I fast because my body does not feel the desire to eat. I fast because I need more than bread in those times--I need the words of God.

I feel like fasting has always danced an awkward tango with the evangelical church. I've heard many evangelical leaders praise and demand fasting because "it is the only way to get close to God or to see your prayers answered" (which, as I just stated above, is not the real purpose of fasting). At the same time, I get the feeling that most evangelical Christians don't really know what to do with fasting or don't really know why they should do it. They get the impression that it is a "holy" experience they should do, but they don't know why and tend to avoid it because it seems too ancient or odd.

I think a large reason we evangelicals don't get fasting is because we've divorced the "body" and the "soul." We think the "real" part of us is our soul, which we think will fly off to heaven one day, leaving our body behind. In contrast, fasting is an act very solidly rooted in bodily experience. Why practice fasting when I can't really see how this bodily act will impact my soul, the "true me"?

However, once we realize the error of this thinking then we can better appreciate the practice of fasting. We are more than a soul. We are soul and body. These two cannot be divided or separated. This is the whole point of the promise of the resurrection. One day, God will restore our bodies back to us. Our bodies do matter, and what we do in these bodies matters as well because bodily practices do impact the spirit. They are united.

So, yes I do fast, and it probably wouldn't hurt if you did too. However, don't fast in order to get something. Don't fast to manipulate God into blessing you or answering your prayers. Instead, fast when life demands it. Fast when you encounter those "grievous sacred moments." Fast when you are in pain. Fast when you are surrounded by death and suffering. Fast when your prayers seem to go unanswered and you feel abandoned by God. Doing so brings our body into harmony with what our soul is experiencing. So, the next time pain and tragedy smack you in the face, don't censor your body, but allow it to suffer as well and open yourself to the healing and grace found in Christ.

Demons in America

No, this is not a blog post about a new horror movie. If that's what you were expecting, I'm sorry to disappoint you (although I feel like "Demons in America" would make a good title for a horror-comedy film.)

No, I'm talking about real demons in real life. In our "enlightened" culture this topic does not come up too often, at least not in meaningful ways. On the one hand, with the overall decline of organized religion and the growth of science and modern empiricism, one would expect Americans to completely discount the concept of demons as beings that truly exist. However, interestingly enough, a nationally representative study done by the Baylor Department of Sociology found a couple years ago that 67% of Americans either "absolutely" or "probably" believe in demons. Another survey found that 57% of Americans believe a person can become "possessed by demons."

Now, much of this belief is probably more influenced by modern horror films than by any biblical understanding. Such a belief is likely comparable to how many people also believe in ghosts or other evil powers. However, the stats get even more interesting when we look at American Christians in particular.

According to a study done by the Barna Group nearly 60% of American Christians do not really believe that Satan is a "living being," but merely believe that Satan is just a "symbol of evil." Confusingly, though, 64% of American Christians stated they believe a person can come "under the influence" of spiritual forces such as demons.

This apparent inconsistency seems to speak of the particular social situation of American Christians. We follow a book that plainly declares demons are real and claims demons oppress and possess people and interfere with human affairs. However, to actually believe there are real spiritual creatures out there causing havoc in the world does not seem to line up with our scientific, modern worldview. Therefore, most Christians probably opt for agreeing that there are "spiritual" forces out there, but stop short of admitting these forces are actual creatures. Maybe they're just symbolic.

Overall, I find that most people I encounter don't operate with a sense that demons are real and active in the world, at least not on a daily basis. As one of my former professors used to joke, "We don't believe in demons in America because they can't get past customs." For most Americans, even those who claim to believe in spiritual forces, we don't go around expecting to encounter demons around us.

I suspect again that this is largely due to Hollywood. We've been tricked into thinking that demons are grotesque creatures who manifest themselves in horrendous, obvious ways. If a person is possessed, we expect them to have their head twist in a circle or their mouth to elongate into a gaping maw filled with razor sharp teeth. Those are our images of demon possession. And if that is what we expect, of course we will never encounter demons in America.

At the same time, there are many Americans who simply dismiss the concept of demons as "superstitious." Satan and demons are merely symbols for evil, mental illness, human temptations, etc. After all, we are a scientific society. We know there is no such thing as supernatural beings. Everything in the universe has a rational explanation.

But I do believe there are demons out there. I do believe that unseen forces seek to destroy humans and create chaos. Why do I believe this? Because it seems Jesus did. Even if we chalk up many of the "demon possessed" whom Jesus healed to people afflicted by mental illness or epilepsy, I still can't discount how Jesus operated His ministry with the belief that Satan was real and that He was in fact battling unseen forces. Furthermore, my wife and I have had too many experiences in our lives that demonstrate to us that there is more to the world than what I can see with my eyes or that I can study with scientific equipment.

But, if demons are real, what do they look like in America? For one, I guarantee they are not parading around in the clothes of Hollywood. As CS Lewis pointed out in The Screwtape Letters, a lack of belief in demons can be just as unhealthy as an unwarranted fear of demons. We as Americans tend to fall into the trap of ignorance and lack of belief. And, if this is unhealthy, then why would demons try to make themselves known? If they can keep their work hidden from our blind eyes, then it makes sense they would keep a low profile.

Which brings me to my main point. What does "demon possession" look like in modern America? I don't think it can be seen by heads twisting or fangs growing. I don't even think it can often be noticed by a person's voice becoming deep and gravelly. Rather, I think one of the key markers of demonic activity in America is irrational self-destruction. When a person or group seems to march toward their own demise and does so against all sense of reason and logic, I think many times there is probably demonic influence.

For instance, a former professor of mine once told the story of a woman seeking counseling from him while he was a pastor. She had done some horrible things in her past, things that people should regret. At this stage of the counseling, he wanted her to move on past describing her sins. However, she kept insisting on telling every grisly detail and almost seemed to delight in the retelling. Even when he kept telling her to stop she kept persisting. Finally, when he stood up to walk away, she grabbed his arm as if she wanted to force him to stay and listen to her boast about her evil.

It is that kind of irrational behavior that seems to be indicative of demonic activity here in the US. Now, let me be clear, I DO NOT want to ignore mental illness or modern medicinal science. These are both necessary fields of study. Those diagnosed with mental illnesses should be treated or medicated as needed. However, when a person with a mental illness engages in a mass shooting, I can't help but think that demons were present as well. After all, just the mental illness itself does not seem to be a full explanation. Many people with the same mental illness don't turn violent or commit murderous atrocities.

When people choose the path of self-destruction, this is anti-creational activity, and is likely the work of those who oppose the Creator. Furthermore, pursuing this path while ignoring any rational thought also seems to be indicative. When people take an action that is clearly absurd and leaves us scratching our heads when we step back from the situation, it should be a clue to us.

Demons may be at work when an institution continues to oppress a minority group, even though every sign indicates it does so to its detriment. Or when a man makes up ridiculous rumors to oust a faithful pastor, even though he knows it will cause a church split or church death. Or when a woman persists in her drug use and even brags about the addiction, even though she knows it is wrong and it will kill her. When a person finds themselves hating or being envious of a friend with no clear reason; the feelings just seem to appear "out of nowhere."

The longer I live, the more situations I see that go beyond rational explanation. We can try to offer as many scientific or psychological reasonings as we want, but in the end, there is too much I see that cannot be explained away. There are many cases when it appears there is an unseen force gently prodding individuals and institutions toward their own demise.

Again, let me reiterate, it is foolish for us to go on witch-hunts or to see Satan hiding behind every bush and corner! There are many things that CAN be explained by science and psychology. Furthermore, identifying evil is rarely an easy task. As NT Wright has stated, "evil is nameless, and slimy, and formless and seeps in other places [we do not expect.]" The moment we try to label something as "demonic" or the work of Satan is often the moment that evil jumps out from a different direction completely or even rears its head in us.

In conclusion, I don't advocate forming exorcism teams to seek out and destroy demons in your community. Evil is slippery and such efforts often further the cause of evil by attacking the innocent. However, we should not be naive and think that we live in a demon-free world. Demons are real and present, and they are at work. And, having seen the effect of these forces in my own life, in my community, and in my church, this realization prompts me to turn all the more to God in prayer. As I find in the example of Jesus, the only way to push back the darkness in lives and institutions around us is to "bind the strong man" (Mk. 3:27) through prayer and reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit. If evil does exist, and if it seeks to undo God's creation, then the people of God must join together in unity to pray for God to show up as our warrior and King who has defeated evil on the cross and who is the rightful King of this world.

"This is My Father's world
oh let me ne'er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong
God is the Ruler yet!"

Hearing God's Train

I was sitting on the couch in our living room tonight while our oldest daughter was playing nearby. All of a sudden, Hadi, who will be 2 in September, said, "Train, woo, woo." It took me a second to figure out why she was making train sounds randomly. But my wife immediately knew why.

"Do you hear a train, Hadi?"
"Ya" (accompanied by a vigorous head nod)

You see, we live in a small town that has railroad tracks running through the middle of the city. Trains probably pass through our town several times every hour, blasting their horns as they run down the tracks. And, even though we live at the edge of town, you can still hear the trains' signals if you pay attention.

If you pay attention...

You see, having lived in Marlin for nearly 4 years now, I have become numb to the horns of the trains. It happens so consistently that I just block it out and rarely notice it unless it comes from a train blocking my car at an intersection. But Hadi hears them almost every time.

As my wife explained, they will frequently be playing or doing chores around the house and Hadi will suddenly stop and say "train" accompanied by her beautiful train sounds. "Woo, woo." She is paying attention.

In thinking about my daughter, I realized that this is often how I treat God's activity in the world as well. Just like the constant barrage of trains through our city, God is constantly at work in our world and in our town. He is always reaching out and moving hearts towards him.

And yet, after years in ministry and years of trying to serve Him, too often I feel I've become deaf to his activity around me. It's very easy for me to only hear silence from Him when the truth of the matter is that He is still there whispering, and maybe even shouting. I allow the daily strains of life and the busyness of the everyday to drown out His voice and blind my eyes.

But my daughter was a blessed reminder that the sound of God's train is still there. He is still moving. He is still speaking. He is still transforming. The real question is whether I will still my heart and mind for long enough to pay attention so I can join in.

"Woo, woo."

Make me a Rhoda

Yes, it's been a long time since I've written a real post (although I'm sure not many people noticed with such a long hiatus), but maybe I'll be able to make this a better habit.

As I was preparing for my Wednesday night youth lesson I suddenly became really convicted by the story I was studying [SPOILER ALERT: If you're one of my students you'll hear this again tomorrow night.] I guess even us pastors need our toes stepped on from time to time (everyday would probably be best).

Our youth group is currently studying through the book of Acts, and this week we are on Acts 12. This is the chapter where Peter is miraculously released from prison by an angel, only to be left stranded outside a house by an overexcited servant girl named Rhoda.

Luke tells us the Christians gathered in the house had been "praying." Almost certainly one of their top prayer concerns was Peter, one of the great leaders of the church who had just been arrested. So, it's strange that no one believes Rhoda when she tells them Peter is standing outside. They had been praying for God to help Peter. It seems odd to me...

But not that odd. As I think about it, that is what my prayer life looks like. I wonder if that house full of Jesus followers really believed that God would hear their prayers and take action. Perhaps they were just like me. All too often my prayers are rushed and shallow. Too many times I pray with that nasty little voice in my head whispering that my prayers are pointless. I throw empty words into the empty void between me and a far-off God and know that he won't do anything.

But then there is Rhoda, a simple servant girl. Whether she was praying herself or simply listening to the prayers of the house, she had her eyes (and ears) open to readily see what God was doing in response to those prayers. She didn't know what was coming, but she was ready. She recognized God's handiwork immediately.

Rhoda reminds me of the truth I easily forget--God is not distant, nor is He idle. When I pray, or sing, or, or work, I do so in the very presence of God. And as I speak, He hears me. And not only does He respond and take action, but He is already in action, moving through the halls of my house and the streets of my city. He may not answer in the way I want, but I must keep my eyes wide open and my ears ready because He will answer, and it will probably be with something better than I could have imagined. The question I must face is whether I will pray and live in anticipation that God will (and is) acting, or if I will blindly walk through life ignorant of the creating, sustaining Love that surrounds me. Make me a Rhoda.

Answers to Prayer

So, as Christians, we usually try to pray fairly often. Sadly, we don't pray as much as we probably should (but that's another topic for another time). When we do pray, though, what do we expect? Do we expect God to answer us? Recently, I've been convicted about this. It seems easy for me to pray for God to move in my life, but then get up and never give a second thought to that prayer during the day.

Now, of course, when we pray, God often acts in a way that we don't expect, but this does not mean that He is not responding. Indeed, Biblical stories seem to imply that when God's people cry to Him, He is faithful to give a response (whether it's what they wanted or not). So, in our prayer life, when we pray, do we expect a response? Or is our prayer life something that we just ritually go through to give us some comfort? If we ask God to move, to we keep our eyes open to the world around us to see where He does show up? Or do we treat these movements as distractions to our routine? It seems we need to take our prayer more seriously. After all, we are entering into dialogue with the God who created the universe. If we pray and don't act in a way that shows a readiness to hear/see a response, then we insult God's power and faithfulness to answer.