Springwood Presbyterian Church: Whitsett, NC

We come, O God, to sit at Jesus’ feet again, seeking wisdom, energy, and inspiration.  May we learn from him today the things that make for eternal life.  Amen.

In last Sunday’s reading about Martha and Mary, Jesus commended Mary for being with him and learning from him.  That leads into his words this week about prayer as a relationship with God.

Luke 11: 1-13                                                                                 7-25-10

Lord, Teach Us To Pray

“It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.  Not my brother, not my sister, but it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.”

Lyle is the wife of a Church of England bishop.  Desperate over her husband’s problems with his diocese and with his relationship with their grown sons, she takes to prayer. Lyle is no stranger to the act of praying, but she is a stranger to God—or, rather, God is a stranger to her.  She feels her prayers go into empty air.  Have you ever felt that way?  Now, however, she begins to pray regularly--with purpose and persistence.  She keeps a journal of her prayers, her feelings about praying, and about God.  In Susan Howatch’s novel Absolute Truths, Lyle’s journal tracks her journey from abstract faith in an abstract, distant God to concrete faith in a concrete and very-present God.   She writes,

“I’m powerless in regard to my problems.  Perhaps I should pray about them.  Of course I’m always praying for Charles and the boys, and our life as a family, but that’s routine, like brushing my teeth, and I’m not really praying, not actively trying to open up my mind and will to God and begging for enlightenment so that the situation can be seen in the light of truth and changed.  …  Memo to God: it looks as if you’re calling me to pray, but I can’t help thinking this is very eccentric of you, as I have no obvious gift for prayer.”  

Do you have a “gift for prayer”?  Does anyone?  Or is praying, in part, a learned act?

Jesus’ disciples thought so, and, as Luke tells it, they asked him to teach them.  In Matthew’s longer version of the prayer, the one we pray most of the time, Jesus simply gives them the prayer as part of their training.  That was the usual way.  Teachers and rabbis in the 1^st century would provide a special prayer for their followers, a prayer to identify them as students of a particular teacher. 

Jesus’ disciples wanted that special identification, too: give us a prayer like John gave his disciples.   And they wanted more.  Having watched their teacher pray so often and with such fervor, they realized prayer was the center of his life: it gave him the power to heal and to teach; it sustained and directed him; and, it was his time with God.  Perhaps they wanted not only the power, but also a close relationship with God.  So they asked for a formula for successful prayer: “Give us the right words to say, so we can know God, too.”

Jesus gave them a prayer.  But the words aren’t a formula or some sort of magic to open the door to God.  They are instead the key to understanding what prayer is meant to be, and why.  The parable and the teachings that follow the prayer illustrate the meaning.

First, Jesus says, address your prayers to God, the loving Father of us all, and the model for all earthly fathers—and mothers.  If good parents want good things for their children, Jesus says, imagine how much more God wants and will do for God’s children!  Of course, good parents don’t just indulge their children’s whims, but instead, give them what they need as they need it: our daily bread--the basic necessities of life, and they’re for all God’s children, as the word our indicates.  Bread and all other blessings are for sharing until no one goes hungry or without shelter—until God’s justice is in place throughout the world.

Naming God as Father also helps us understand our place in the world: not totally self-sufficient individuals, but rather, a people dependent on God for our life and our salvation, and interdependent with one another.  As our loving Father, God knows better than we do what’s best for us and for others.   When we accept that, we can be less concerned with controlling other people and getting our way, and be more concerned with learning what God wants for all of us.  Then, we can let God use us to help that happen. 

Knowing God as our Father means we are brothers and sisters.  One of the values in God’s family is forgiving one another and receiving forgiveness when we do wrong.  God’s forgiveness is free, but Jesus seems to suggest that we block our own access to it, unless we forgive others. 

Of course, to find out what God wants of us we have to ask for God’s will--your kingdom come, we pray—and to listen for God’s answer.  It’s not easy, though, to seek God’s will, when our own wishes and wants keep popping up in our prayers, is it?  Another journal entry from the fictional Lyle:

“Memo to God: I’m praying away, but I still can’t quite believe this is what you want me to do—and when I say me I mean ME, Lyle, not Mrs. Bishop the fabulous clerical accessory, and not Mum, the fabulous clerical mother.  If each human being is created for a special purpose in your plan, then by all means, show me what my purpose is at this stage of my life, so that I can do it--but can it really be prayer?  Honestly?  Surely I’m better equipped to do something more interesting and rewarding?” 

And the next entry begins, “No reply from God.  But what did I expect?  A telegram on a silver salver borne by an angel?”

 We do get better at it, though, with practice. 

Lyle’s journal again: “I shall go on praying, but please send me instructions about how I can pray as effectively as possible.” 

Shortly thereafter she writes, “Cracks seems to be opening up in my consciousness and when I peer into them, I don’t like what I see.  Is it that prayer has somehow opened my mind so that I can see farther than I ever did before?  …  Memo to God: I hope you’re having a big laugh about all this somewhere.” 

Perseverance in prayer is more than a stubborn repetition of our wants to God—it’s keeping up a continual conversation with God until we become aware there really is Somebody on the other end of the line—and, until we’re willing for God to change us.  

Here’s a word from real life.  Not long ago, a friend and I were discussing prayer.  Later, he forwarded to me some e-mails he received from a former co-worker who now attends seminary.  In one of her notes she talks about a course in prayer.  (Isn’t it amazing how God provides what we need, when we need it?)

She writes, “How do you know your prayer is effective?  The key is not to look at the change in the circumstance that you are praying about, but to look at the change in yourself.  Are the fruits of the Spirit becoming more manifest in your own life? …  Our teacher says that a lot of times, people reverse their ‘gaze’ and their ‘glance.’  Instead of glancing at their problems and gazing at God, they glance at God and gaze at their problems; this makes God small like a grasshopper, in comparison to the size of their problems.  The point is to fix your gaze on God—primarily through praise and adoration—and let God show you how to look at your problems.”

We pray because we have problems, and because others have problems, and, like Jesus’ disciples, because we want to know God.  We are meant for prayer, and we do it, whether we are taught or not, because we know “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me, O Lord, standin’ in the need of prayer.” 

I can’t hear that without thinking of my niece Elizabeth, who, at about age 3, came home from Sunday School very proud of the new song she had learned.  Loudly, she intoned, “It’s me, it’s me, it’s me I love, standin’ on the knee of prayer.”  We all got a big laugh at her misinterpretation.  But there’s wisdom in them.  God wants us to love ourselves so we can love God and other people.  And the way she interpreted the second part, “standin’ on the knee of prayer” imprinted an indelible image on my mind’s eye: Prayer is all the petitions and all the praises of all the yearning hearts in all the world, and there I am, standing on prayer’s knees, like a little child balancing on her daddy’s knees, protected by her daddy’s strong arms, standing just a little taller, able to see just a little farther, coming just a little closer to God, because she’s lifted up on the knees of prayer.

Lord, teach us to pray.  Amen.

*****

O God, we pray because you created us to live with you—because you desire the prayers of our hearts—because our own hearts long for you--because we need your help and guidance every day.  Help us in our praying to find ourselves nearer to you day by day.

          We ask your help for those whose needs we know, and we say their names and their needs to you in the silence of our hearts ….

          We seek your peace in a troubled world and in a nation whose problems need divine guidance and human cooperation.  For those with the ability to influence policy, give  guidance and courage.  Keep safe those who serve in the military, fire, police, and emergency services, and particularly those whose work takes them to dangerous places.   

This congregation perseveres on the journey of faith it began with you more than 140 years ago.  Keep it on your path, O God, and show us what’s needed for this time.  Guide the Pastor Nominating Committee in its difficult and exciting work.

          We knock on your door, and ask to come in where you are.  We want to know you, our God, but we don’t always want to take the time or to make the effort—maybe we don’t even know how to begin.  Help us, in the name of Jesus, who taught us to begin this way: “Father, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come.  Give us each day our daily bread.  And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us.  And do not bring us to the time of trial.  Amen.”

Do we get angry when God doesn’t do things our way?  Do we want a closer relationship with God but on our terms?  Let us ask God’s forgiveness and wait for God’s answers:

God forgives our sin and makes us alive in Christ.  As we forgive those who have hurt us, we can truly realize the forgiveness God offers us so freely.  Thanks be to God.

As our heavenly Father gives good things to us, let us give our offerings to help others.// May we do as you do, Our God, and give the right kind of gifts to those who need them.  Multiply our efforts to be faithful in all areas of stewardship, for the sake of Jesus, who showed us how.  Amen.