It was Wednesday night and we were in groups of six to pray for those whose names had been called. Some of us prayed such cautiously-wise prayers, being careful to add "...but Thy will be done." Others prayed such deep prayers -- almost mini-sermons designed to show how well we knew the scriptures. Of course, all of us made sure we remembered the names of all the requests.
Then HE prayed. The shy young man was obviously a baby Christian, and it seemed he was taking the risk of praying out loud for the very first time. His voice trembled as he prayed not for the requests, but for himself.
Shock Me Like
He said, "Jesus, please keep us in the hard times -- those times when we want to give up. Don't let us give up, Jesus!" The raw honesty and child-like simplicity of his prayer brought me to tears, and I was ashamed of the way I have complicated my walk with You, Lord. I remembered what it was like to need You and Your strength minute-by-minute, just to survive! It was a glorious time because I had such an intimate knowledge of You that seems to have dimmed with time.
I'm embarrassed by my "religious sophistication" and "grown-up" attitudes of Christianity. Like so many others who came to You many years ago, I have have been satisfied with past experience. This young man's prayer reminded me of the child who is so mother-aware that he runs to her without even thinking about it when he feels insecure. I, too, must have a Father-awareness at all times, or lose our intimacy.
Somehow, I've allowed immediate, but less-important matters of this world to creep in and dull my memory. Until tonight, I forgot how miserably I failed at living without holding onto Your holding of me. Forgive my independent spirit, Lord, and take me back to that time when, as a child, I first believed You. I miss You, Lord. And I miss the precious intimacy we shared.
(c) April Lorier | Related Articles
Prayer Meeting Shock! Shock Me Like
0 comments:
Post a Comment