Offering, and answers to prayer

Nope, I'm not going to talk about money or tithing, though both are very important subjects. The offering I'm referring to in the title is ourselves.

The lyrics of a popular Christian song imply that the only sacrifice we can make to G-d is to give Him our lives, and that this is in our power to do so. The thought struck me that this is not entirely true. No, I don't have anything else to give G-d, for there is nothing that isn't already His. Including me. I obediently "give my life to Him" not because it's all I have to give, but because it's His already, purchased for eternity by His Son's precious blood.

What struck me in a Wow Moment was not that He accepts the offering of ourselves, but that He accepts this even though it's fully His, and He does it for our benefit and His pleasure.

"Offer yourselves to G-d; as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness." Romans 6:13b

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of G-d's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to G-d - this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1

I'm amazed that He considers this offering-that's-rightfully-His an act of worship. My only conclusion is that this act of obedience, this continual laying down of our selves and offering of our bodies to Him, is the very "working out" of our salvation. That as we bring this humble offering, this lump of clay to the potter, He is molding and making, transforming and sanctifying us into righteousness, drawing us closer to holiness and pleasing our Father.

My second Wow Moment came this morning during my word-study on Grace. I promise to revisit Romans and 1 Corinthians, but today I came across Paul's famous grace quote in 2 Cor 12:9.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. " Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I was reminded that this was the answer to Paul's prayer that the thorn in his side be removed. This was the answer. Not an answer, or half the answer, for we really don't know if the thorn ever was removed. For all Paul knew at the time of writing, and all we know now, this was it. This was not a yes, no, maybe, not yet, be patient, or any of the other short human answers we often look for from G-d.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Enough already. You don't need a human answer, you need ME. Find rest in My strength and power in My grace, for I am the only answer sufficient for all life's thorns.

Think about it: even when He answers in human terms, He still answers ME. He only answers yes when it brings Him glory, and no when it won't. Maybes, not yets, and be patients all serve to draw us closer to His will. Seek first the kingdom of G-d.

You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. John 14:14

The answer, and perhaps even the prayer should be as well, is always Me.

Williams on Prayer

My principal exposure to Charles Williams up till now was through Lewis' quotations of him. These were snippits here and there, but cleaver enough to make me like him and quote him often. In the past month I've acquired two of his works, War in Heaven and Decent into Hell.

I began reading War in Heaven, a novel about the Holy Grail. The story takes place in the UK circa 1920s, and opens with a murder at a publishing company. This is all good and dandy and makes a fine read.

However, what struck me was just how much theology and wisdom Williams' packed into this fictional tale. (Now I must add him to my list of mythologists/theologians to study!) I'll just share what really jumped out at me: Williams' commentary on prayer.

In a chapter titled "The Second Attempt on the Graal," the Grail is metaphysically threatened by characters following the occult. (Creepy. Kind of makes you feel unclean while reading it.) A makeshift Table has gathered to protect the Grail, headed by the Archdeacon. Williams conveys his thoughts through the Archdeacon.

When the threat is realized, the Archdeacon cries, "Something is going on, I do not know what. Make yourselves paths for the Will of G-d."

"Against what shall we pray?" the Duke cried.
"Against nothing," the Archdeacon said. "Pray that He who made the universe may sustain the universe, that in all things there may be delight in the justice of His will."

The Archdeacon, the Duke and Kenneth continue to pray, but Kenneth finds his mind distracted. The Archdeacon cries out "Pray!" and Williams' narrative states: Kenneth heard, and knew his weakness; he abolished his memories, and, so far as was possible, surrendered himself to be only what he was meant to be.

The whole encounter displays surrender to self, and submission to His will. I wonder how much Lewis' thoughts on pray were influenced by Williams. I've lent much of my Lewis works on prayer and cannot reference what I'd like, for fear of misquoting. He does write in "The Efficacy of Prayer,"

Our act, when we pray, must not, any more than all our other acts, be separated from the continuous act of G-d Himself, in which alone all finite causes operate.

Make yourselves paths for the Will of G-d....

God is Good (All the Time)

In my groggy state of waking-up (late) this morning, I managed to mumble a prayer to the following effect:

Father, I know You've blessed me with this job. I am grateful for it; help me to appreciate where You've placed me and be mindful of Your purposes while I am here. Help me to not see this as 'just a job for a year,' but as part of Your plan for my life, and for those around me. Thank You for the people in my office. Help me to be a Christ-like example in my daily interactions with them, and maybe even share the gospel of Your Grace with whomever You have called. Help me to use this job as an opportunity to share You with those around me.

I arrived late (due in large part to my 9:15 Theory, which I will explain to anyone who really wants to know). My boss, who was at The Building five years ago today, was not expected in the office today. So, I wasn't really sure what to do with myself for a whole 9 hours. I knew there was a memorial service and planned on attending with a co-worker, not really knowing what to expect. I'd been told military chaplains tend to be ecumenical, a little too PC and certainly not vocal about any evangelical positions.

This was not to be the case this morning, "for where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." Certainly, the organizers of the service attempted to offer a multi-faith service. There was the Muslim representative for the invocation; the Jewish reading/singing of Psalm 23. And even the chief of chaplains delivering the message tamely referred only to "God."
But, someone at the chaplain's office invited Selah to provide "uplifting music" for the service, and any if anyone thought they'd come to have a nice quiet time of remembrance, they were wrong. I'm the first to admit I was skeptical about Selah... I find most Christian music cheesy and in poor musical taste. (There are exceptions to the rule and I do like Selah's worship songs).

However, I still did not expect a full-on Worship Hour. Certainly not here. Really? You've come here? But He did, and He had work to do. I found myself scanning the room, just saying Amen, Amen, Amen. And here I stood, after praying that prayer just a few hours before, witnessing His Spirit moving. I felt His presence, His peace, and His healing power at work in that place.

I am humbled by our great King. That He would fill my cup so that I might share with others... that is truly a gracious mystery.

The Process of Prayer

Words without thoughts never to heaven go...

Our act, when we pray, must not, any more than all our other acts, be
separated from the continuous act of God Himself, in which alone all finite causes operate.

I've noticed recently that my greatest times of joy in prayer have come in times of submission. In his essay "The Efficacy of Prayer," Lewis writes that "prayer is request," in the same sense that we ask favor just as we would with others. Does it follow that G-d will fulfill our request? No, of course not. For one, His mind is not the type to be 'made-up' like that. This is not to say that He follows wherever the day might lead and makes His decisions as He goes. Quite the opposite. His Will was determined before the dawn of time. His decisions, therefore, flow from the purposes of His Will.

Some may suggest that His Final Plan is in mind, but the path has yet unfolded (thus allowing room for alterations). Others believe the Plan is set, unalterable (for G-d is unchanging). I am of the persuasion that both are simultaneously true. As Lewis suggests, we have no idea if our prayers determined an outcome, because our prayers may very well have been part of that process. Much like salvation, the causal relationships between time, our actions, faith and the acts of the Holy Spirit will always contain mysteries. As my pastor said this week, "The closer you get to a spiritual paradox, the closer you are to G-d's Truth." For how can an infinite, timeless and perfect Being interact with finite, time-bound, imperfect creatures without paradox?

And, as the process of prayer unfolds in my life, I am learning that as much as I know G-d can do whatever He wants (meaning He has the power to), I do not pray thinking He will. I pray knowing I will be brought close to understanding Him and His purposes. 'For even in the very heart of the story we meet a glaring instance to the contrary. In Gethsemane the holiest of all petitioners prayed three times that a certain cup might pass from Him. It did not.'

Is it not for our benefit that Christ uttered this prayer? Does it not show by his example that even Christ had to submit his plans to the Father's Will? And does that not bring you Hope? A gracious Hope, for certain. For when we come to Him and rest completely in His will, 'His love is ever as strong, in both sorrow and celebration.'

Many point to Christ's cry on the cross of utter despair to show that even he felt abandoned by G-d. However, in Hebrew culture, expressing the first line of a Pslam brought the whole passage to mind. So, even in Christ's darkest hour on earth, when he cried, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" he rested - in his sorrow - in the Father's Will, knowing that the rest of the Pslam speaks of Hope. For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. (Pslam 22)

So the process of prayer is submission to His will, rest in His hope, and the peace and joy that comes from knowing Him more fully.

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. -Isaiah 26:3

More on Prayer

A comment from 'Asking' linked to this post on Elizaphanian. Worth reading.

I always find our human desire for control to be the greatest source of pride/sin. As if we could do anything better. Yet that is how I act everyday. Thinking I know what is best, and living as such. But reverent prayer does indeed break down that thinking. For when we are truly focused on Him, we are aware of our utter dependence on Him, and our own inadequacies in controlling our lives.

You give and take away,
You give and take away.
My heart will choose to say,
Blessed be your Name.

Asking

(From notes taken this Sunday)

I am discovering the importance of asking for my needs to be met. Rather than assuming they will be, or that if they aren't, they never would've been.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

After we are directed to pray for heavenly things, we are encouraged to pray for our needs as well. (Always in light of the rest of Matthew 6 -- our needs, not our greeds.) We are not to worry, we are simply to ask. To put our needs at His feet, because He is a G-d of unlimited resources and all that is, is His.

Previously, my subconscious raised two objections to asking for my own personal, physical needs.

1. He knows my needs anyway. Why should I have to ask?

This misses the mark on several levels. Jesus tells us to ask. One, that we may know all provision comes from Him and two (in conjunction), as part of our refinement, supplication should turn our thoughts to heavenly things, placing our treasure and heart on His kingdom and righteousness.

2. G-d doesn't care about those little things. I mean, not for me, really. There is world poverty and a myriad of other things for Him to worry about. Not my job, or my car, or my ____.

Oh foolish pride! Always there, hidden and woven into every rationalizing thought. By placing emphasis on me, it minimizes G-d's power and reach. Here I am claiming that praying about little things is a 'waste of time' because somewhere in my arrogant mind, I can take care of the little things. But, He is Lord of the magnificent and the mundane.

Obviously, we are to be responsible with our time and resources, but it's He who supplies all of our needs.

It's right there: Give us today our daily bread.

(When Christ walked the earth, this was far more literal than we take it today. Then, yesterday's wages bought today's food. Subsistence was a day-to-day need. Most of us don't know what that feels like, but the principle is the same: We are to ask for our needs because it is He who provides all that is necessary.)