A couple of Sundays ago, I preached on the power of prayer. Here are some excerpts from that sermon.
Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered she had certain instructions for her son: "Now you're not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don't even ask."
She put him in the child's seat and off they went up and down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. Seeing the chocolate chip cookies he said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you not even to ask. You're not going to get any at all." They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items she had to back track and they ended up in the cookie aisle again. "Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you that you can't have any. Now sit down and be quiet."
Finally, they arrived at the checkout. The little boy sensed that the end was in sight, that this might be his last chance. He stood up on the seat and shouted in his loudest voice, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?" Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded. Do you think the little boy got his cookies? You bet! The other shoppers moved by his daring pooled their resources. The little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies. (1)
Paul Harvey told about a 3-year-old boy who went to the grocery store with his mother. Before they entered she had certain instructions for her son: "Now you're not going to get any chocolate chip cookies, so don't even ask."
She put him in the child's seat and off they went up and down the aisles. He was doing just fine until they came to the cookie section. Seeing the chocolate chip cookies he said, "Mom, can I have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you not even to ask. You're not going to get any at all." They continued down the aisles, but in their search for certain items she had to back track and they ended up in the cookie aisle again. "Mom, can I please have some chocolate chip cookies?" She said, "I told you that you can't have any. Now sit down and be quiet."
Finally, they arrived at the checkout. The little boy sensed that the end was in sight, that this might be his last chance. He stood up on the seat and shouted in his loudest voice, "In the name of Jesus, may I have some chocolate chip cookies?" Everyone in the checkout lanes laughed and applauded. Do you think the little boy got his cookies? You bet! The other shoppers moved by his daring pooled their resources. The little boy and his mother left with 23 boxes of chocolate chip cookies. (1)
Prayer sometimes can be like asking for a box of chocolate chip cookies.
I believe one of the dangers we fall in to in our prayer life is that we lose sight of who God created us to be. Prayer is seen by many as a private thing – between me and God – which in many ways it is… it is a one-on-one communication with God. But in praying, it is sometimes easy for our prayers to become nothing more than a selfish listing of what I want, what I need, and what I am about, and totally ignores the others around us.
As I have said before, God created us to be a part of community. God created us as a people – and calls us to live our lives as a part of the Body of Christ. Sin breaks in when our focus turns to self and ignores the neighbor. Notice in Jesus’ prayer that his prayer is for the community, for the world, for unity for ALL.
Dr Anna Madsen (a wonderful Lutheran theologian I got to hear a couple weeks ago) writes this:
The Hebrew word that we translate in Scripture as righteous also can be translated as properly aligned. Prayer is a moment to become properly aligned, rightly oriented, to the thing that defines who we are.
This is why it is so key to identify who our God is, or what we understand God to be. Prayer provides us the opportunity to become aligned again, to remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we live in community. (2)
Prayer is more than asking for a box of cookies. But it is ALSO about asking for a box of cookies. Since we ARE in relationship with God, and prayer allows us to be continually connected to God, it is important to share with God what is on our hearts, our minds, our hopes and fears.
Prayer invites us to live our lives as God’s children. And if we truly look at prayer as that, our prayers focus not simply on what I want, but what God is calling me to do and be as a child of God.
Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray what he told them? When you pray, pray this way – “Our Father.” Not MY Father. OUR. It begins with community!
I came across the following in my daily devotions a few years ago – it is called “A few thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer.”
Prayer – it’s a powerful thing.
Peace,
Pastor Charlie
A video addition - Blessings by Laura Story
I believe one of the dangers we fall in to in our prayer life is that we lose sight of who God created us to be. Prayer is seen by many as a private thing – between me and God – which in many ways it is… it is a one-on-one communication with God. But in praying, it is sometimes easy for our prayers to become nothing more than a selfish listing of what I want, what I need, and what I am about, and totally ignores the others around us.
As I have said before, God created us to be a part of community. God created us as a people – and calls us to live our lives as a part of the Body of Christ. Sin breaks in when our focus turns to self and ignores the neighbor. Notice in Jesus’ prayer that his prayer is for the community, for the world, for unity for ALL.
Dr Anna Madsen (a wonderful Lutheran theologian I got to hear a couple weeks ago) writes this:
The Hebrew word that we translate in Scripture as righteous also can be translated as properly aligned. Prayer is a moment to become properly aligned, rightly oriented, to the thing that defines who we are.
This is why it is so key to identify who our God is, or what we understand God to be. Prayer provides us the opportunity to become aligned again, to remind ourselves that we are not alone, that we live in community. (2)
Prayer is more than asking for a box of cookies. But it is ALSO about asking for a box of cookies. Since we ARE in relationship with God, and prayer allows us to be continually connected to God, it is important to share with God what is on our hearts, our minds, our hopes and fears.
Prayer invites us to live our lives as God’s children. And if we truly look at prayer as that, our prayers focus not simply on what I want, but what God is calling me to do and be as a child of God.
Remember when the disciples asked Jesus how to pray what he told them? When you pray, pray this way – “Our Father.” Not MY Father. OUR. It begins with community!
I came across the following in my daily devotions a few years ago – it is called “A few thoughts on the Lord’s Prayer.”
- I cannot pray "OUR", if my faith has no room for others and their need.
- I cannot pray "WHO ART IN HEAVEN", if all my interests and pursuits are in earthly things.
- I cannot pray "HALLOWED BE THY NAME", if I am not striving, with God's help, to be holy.
- I cannot pray "THY KINGDOM COME", if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.
- I cannot pray "ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN", unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.
- I cannot pray "GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD", without expending honest effort for it, or if I would withhold from my neighbor the bread that I receive.
- I cannot pray "FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO TRESPASS AGAINST US", if I continue to harbor a grudge against anyone.
- I cannot pray "LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION", if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.
- I cannot pray "DELIVER US FROM EVIL", if I am not prepared to fight evil with my life and my prayer.
- I cannot pray "THINE IS THE KINGDOM", if I am unwilling to obey God.
- I cannot pray "THINE IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY", if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.
- I cannot pray "FOR EVER AND EVER", if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.
- I cannot pray "AMEN", unless I honestly say ..."Cost what it may, this is my prayer. (3)
Prayer – it’s a powerful thing.
Peace,
Pastor Charlie
A video addition - Blessings by Laura Story
- http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-stories-faith-60321.asp
- Dr. Anna Madsen - http://omgcenter.com/blog/
- http://www.christianstudy.com/data/illu/sie0003.html
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