I don't think prayer is mechanical. That is, I don't think if we "do" things right -- as the right way, use the right formulae, etc -- that we will get what we want. But James makes a mechanical point about prayer that we need to think about. Notice these words from James 4:1-3:What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle You within you?want something but don't get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.Here's a "mechanical" point that we need to consider when it comes to prayer: there is a profound interconnectivity between our relations with humans and our relation with God.
If our motives are to possess or dominate others, we can't be connected
to God properly; if our desires and pleasures to have authority over
others shape our prayers, we are not connected to God properly. I don't
know that is as simple as "get your motives right" or "get the right
pleasures". Instead, I'm wondering today if it is not more "when you
are in proper relations with those in the messianic community then your
prayers will be heard because you are in tune with what God is doing in
this world."
It is far too easy for us to think about the Vertical and then to the Horizontal, as if being right with God makes us right with others. We might pursue this line of thinking today: the Horizontal shapes the Vertical as well.
It is far too easy for us to think about the Vertical and then to the Horizontal, as if being right with God makes us right with others. We might pursue this line of thinking today: the Horizontal shapes the Vertical as well.
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Hmmm....what I have found recently is that my prayers have to be about having right relationship with others. In other words, I need God's help to even get into right relationship because I've so allowed anger and bitterness to take hold, that only His Spirit can help me overcome that so that I can be in right relationship with others.
T,
Don't forget the Lords Prayer and the explanation - For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
Maybe our problem is our image of fishing "for men" - one hook connected to one line connected to one fisherman. A vertical connection.
RJS,
Yes. More and more over the last several years, and Scot's been a significant part of this, I'm convinced that the thesis here (linking horizontal reconciliation to vertical) is real and deep and throughout the biblical witness.
The OT: no more sacrifices, I want you to be just and merciful; here's the 'fast' I want . . .; ignoring the poor = ignoring God; lending to the poor = lending to God; etc.
Jesus: Whatever you've done to the least . . .; Blessed are the merciful; Whatever measure you use . . .; "Salvation has come to this house today"; the Jesus Creed; etc.
John: No love for others means any 'love' for God is a lie
Etc., etc.
This message is everywhere and often in the scriptures.
I feel assured that whatever words form my prayers, God knows my heart and can translate the prayer to what is proper. I think that's part of how prayer forms us. Otherwise I get discouraged, knowing my prayers can't be right enough.
Scot,
This really is a powerful sentence:
Instead, I'm wondering today if it is not more "when you are in proper relations with those in the messianic community then your prayers will be heard because you are in tune with what God is doing in this world."
This could be unpacked and create much healthy discussion at most any church. Thanks.
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