|
|
|
|
| |  | Michael Fox CPCC,
founder of m·agine!,
is a professional
coach and trainer,
author and creative artist, whose work has been featured throughout
the world.
Michael is a
Certified Practitioner
of the
Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator.®
Do you know someone
who might benefit
from our weekly email?
|
|
|
Your Father knows
what you need before you ask...* |
So, then, what's the point of prayer?
Prayer is indeed a forum
to express gratitude and supplication to God.
But might there be more?
After hearing him pray, one of Jesus' disciples made a remarkable request, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1). Remarkable, indeed, for the request came from a man who had likely prayed from his youth. The disciple's request, itself a prayer, was the result of hearing Jesus pray, suggesting that Jesus' prayers were somehow more compelling than his own, suggesting that his own prayers were somehow deficient in comparison.
Jesus answered the disciple's petition, not with a discourse on prayer, but with prayer:
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). How, by contrast, had the disciple been accustomed to pray? It's impossible to know for certain. If you were in the place of the inquiring disciple, how might Jesus' prayer differ from your own practice?
One distinction of Jesus' prayer is its freedom from self-absorption. In fact, Jesus' prayer reflects his creed, "Love God, love neighbor," the two greatest commandments. Even when Jesus made supplication for daily needs, he prayed in the context of community, as one with his neighbor. Noteworthy distinctions, for certain.
But might there be more?
Jesus often "went away" to pray--away from the multitude, away from the disciples, away from the clamor. In fact, he encouraged some to "go in to your room, close your door and pray to your Father" (Matthew 6:6).
But, even as Jesus went away from the tumult to pray,
he drew near to the Father in prayer.
The prophetic imagery of the tabernacle, and later the temple, suggests that drawing near to God is in fact the essential point of prayer. The golden altar of incense was placed before the veil that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place, where dwelt the Presence of God. The golden altar of incense was the nearest a priest might come before the Presence of God.
Here's where the wonder shows up...According to scripture, incense is a metaphor of the prayers of God's children: "May my prayer be counted as incense before You" (Psalm 141:2; cf. Revelation 8:3-4). When a priest offered incense at the golden altar, only the veil separated him from Most Holy Place and the Presence of God. But wait, there's more...The writer of the Hebrews epistle suggested that the veil of the tabernacle represents the flesh, in the sense of man's mortal nature. When men and women pray, then, their mantle of flesh is all that separates their yearning spirits from the very Presence of God.
But might there be more?
Seriously, what more could you want? No kidding.
It's been said that communication is important to a relationship. I'd suggest, instead, that communication is the relationship. So...how's your relationship with God?
Are your prayers more about presents or presence?
As an apprentice of Jesus, you function as a priest (see 1 Peter 2:5, 9), ministering "on behalf of men in things pertaining to God (Hebrews 5:1). How might you shape a daily time and space of prayer that reflects the ancient priest's ministry at the golden altar of incense?
* Matthew 6:8 |
|
Michael Fox
m·agine!
530/613.2774
407 Myrtle Drive
Farmerville, LA, USA 71241
|
|
|
In addition to personal and professional coaching,
m·agine! specializes in spiritual transformation coaching,
employing its proprietary models
--Values, Vision, Voice and Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength--
as well as
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® curriculum
published by CPP, the People Development People.
Michael's books include
Complete in Christ,
Complete in Christ Spiritual Transformation Workbook,
and Biblio·files.
Coaching fees are based upon a sliding scale. Contact us for details.
For additional information, visit our website at maginethepossibilities.net.
Limited scholarships are available for spiritual transformation coaching.
On the flip side, if you are able, please inquire about opportunities
to fund scholarships for those who cannot afford coaching fees.
View our archives!
|
|
|
|
|
|
