Praying Next To Jesus

Frank Macchia is a colleague from many years ago. We worked together at a Christian University in Florida. I enjoyed hearing him speak in Chapel services back in the day and I enjoy reading his posts on Facebook. He recently posted some thoughts about the Lord's Prayer that I found provoking:

Look at the Lord's Prayer and ask the question of what it means to pray next to Jesus. You share in his relationship with God, having the audacity to address God as he did. You realize that it's impossible to ever pray alone, even in your darkest hour, even if no one else is there. You pray and reach for outlandish things like the reign of God on earth. You naively trust in God for this day's bread and not obsess over the future. You pray for grace only from a prior commitment to channel grace to others. Prayer becomes a gift rather than a tool of manipulation. Praying next to Jesus is downright revolutionary. I wonder what would happen if we all decided to pray in this way, all of the time. You think this is what Jesus had in mind?

When it seems I am at the end of my ability and my strength is gone, I pray. When there is nothing else I can do, I pray. When I run out of words to say, I need to listen.

It’s not wrong to exhaust our knowledge and understanding before we pray. It’s not wrong to wrestle with an issue before turning to God for an answer. We never truly understand something until we sit in the question and struggle to comprehend the meaning and value of an experience.

God is not worried about our doubts and questions. He invites them. Confrontation with the Divine ultimately leads to understanding, and understanding leads us to the wisdom revealed in the quiet presence of His Spirit.

It is in this place that we can humbly pray…

Our Father who is in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew 6:9-13)

This is the prayer of the penitent; the prayer of the humble; the prayer of the righteous. It is a prayer of complete trust that recognizes the sovereignty of God.

Find a quiet place and pray with Jesus. You never pray alone.

The weakness of our humanity is showing, but it's OK.

Blessings, my human friends...