TRUE PRAYER

Too often my prayers become a series of distracting thoughts, ending up going around in my own little treadmill of repetition. A prayer book introduces other things, ideas, and people to pray for and about, brings higher thoughts to my weary mind, broadens my misty horizons, and lifts my spirit above my petty burdens.

But sometimes when I try to pray, my eyes skim over the familiar words. For years I have felt guilty and tried to go back and reread (re-pray?) with limited success. And in church I couldn't do that anyway.

Last week it came to me that it didn't matter. God knows what the words are. They are more to remind me than to remind Him! And if there is something I really need to see and have sink in, He always draws my wandering attention to it, so that often I find something new I would swear I never saw or read before!

The important thing about my prayer time isn't so much the words I say or don't say, but to simply be quiet in His presence, drawing His strength and peace into my heart and mind and spirit. And if "reading" familiar prayers keeps my mind on Him, even if the meaning of the words isn't penetrating, that's the important thing.

Prayer is perhaps as much focusing on God as it is petition, thanksgiving, praise, or intercession.

RUNNING ON BATTERY POWER

This morning I just felt totally whanged out.

"Lord," I prayed, "please help me get out of my funk and into Your joy." And with that, Sally May cat hopped up on my desk and made me smile and laugh. But like a butterfly alighting on you, she doesn't stay. She paws at my mug mat and my cup of green tea and then leaps away to sit under my lamp by my computer, as if to say, "get busy with your writing or at least your e-mail."

"I'm running," I said to her, "on battery power." "Whoa! THAT's the problem," I told her. "I'm supposed to be plugged into God's power, not trying to do everything on my own."

When I picked up my NLT Bible Promise Book, I found today's verse was 2 Corinthians 3:5 "It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God." Uh-huh. I think that's what I just discovered on my own. Well, not entirely on my own. I had some help there from the Master of the Universe and from a small, elderly but feisty, red and white kitty.

Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God says "If we do what we can on our parts, we shall soon see that change wrought in us which we aspire after." Easier said than done. You have to live moment by moment--"in the now"--if you are to consciously choose anything other than your habitual response. It requires patience and self-control--both of which I find in short supply! But when I do change my thoughts, things change as well. "Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." (Romans 12:2) And conversely, I've found it to be true that we can be renewed by the transforming of our minds.

IN THE SILENCE

When I was young I learned that fragile things are easily broken. When I grew up I learned that everything is fragile and easily broken.

{From A Journal of the Spirit, a Journey of the Soul, by D.C. Ice, Feb. 4, 1975.}

IN THE SILENCE

"Receive what I give you," saith the Lord.

I am so eager to receive the good things--like Christmas presents and good health and all the beautiful things of nature. But Job said, "Shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil?" (Job 2:10) I'm not so crazy about that!

But when I think back on the bad times in my life and my worst experiences, I see now that much good came from some of them. Maybe I'm still too close to see the good that came, or will come, from the others. I don't think You really send "evil," but You permit it to happen to us. John Baillie said, "Teach me, O God, so to use all the circumstances of my life to-day that they may bring forth in me the fruits of holiness rather than the fruits of sin. Let me use disappointment as material for patience . . . let me use danger as material for courage . . . let me use reproach as material for longsuffering . . . let me use pains as material for endurance."

But then I think again about the good things You give us. Accepting something from Your hands is different from receiving it. You have given me talents and abilities unique to me. If I do not use them, they are just wrapped gifts still under the tree or unwrapped, but stuck in a closet somewhere. You have sent Jesus to us. But if we do not receive Him into our hearts and minds and lives, instead of just celebrating His birth, then Christmas is just a holiday off from school and work, a day distinguished from others only by presents and lights and a big meal.

Help me, Lord, to truly receive You into my home, my life, and my heart, every minute of every day.

{From A Journal of the Spirit, a Journey of the Soul, by D.C. Ice, Dec. 24, 1992.}

IN THE SILENCE

Too often, Lord, I forget that prayer, like conversation, is supposed to be a two-way street, and so I prayed this morning:

"‘Speak, Lord, for thy servant hears.’ You have said, ‘Be still and know that I am God.’ Help me to be still and listen. . . ."

And this was the answer I received, not in audible words, but in thoughts that came quickly to me:

"Offer your day’s planned activities one-by-one for guidance or inspiration or warning. Doing this is not a distraction, but a leading. Be still. The Old Testament has great value; read the lessons. Their worth may not be immediately apparent to you. I have shown you this before. Keep silence. Saul disobeyed. Rebellion is akin to witchcraft; stubbornness is akin to iniquity and idolatry. Saul tried to go beyond God’s command. He was more afraid of his people than of God. He made excuses to justify doing things his way. Keep track of what is revealed to you so you may remember and see your progress in spiritual learning and growth."

{From A Journal of the Spirit, a Journey of the Soul, by D.C. Ice, Nov. 12, 1991.}