12-23-2015

Good Morning All!!        

          1Samuel 3:10; “And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant hears.”

     We were engaged in a discussion the other day about prayer, specifically the prayers that we used in church.  The background of the discussion was about how many Christians in America seem to view God as an ATM or a personal vending machine.  This then went to our prayers.  Someone asked if we were doing it any differently.  When we pray, we usually state the petition which is usually a request.  We ask God to bring healing to the sick.  We pray for the nation, for travelers, for missionaries, and so on and so forth.  We often end these with a phrase such as “Hear our prayer.”

    The question was as to whether we were engage in the same practice.  Do we pray to God with the attitude, “here is the issue, solve it now God?”   Are we asking in the ATM fashion?  It was agreed that this was not the intent but could be viewed in that fashion.  One suggestion was to change the response to “we ask you to hear us.”  Even then the question went to the response of Samuel.  Should we, at some point in the service, pray like Samuel, “Speak, for your servant hears?”

   Jesus tells us to pray.  He tells us to “ask and we will receive.”  We are to engage in prayer and we are to engage in where we ask God for his forbearance, his supply and his blessings.  Yet do we fall into a rut where we assume that our relationship with God is always asking (demanding) that God do something for us?  Sometime, should we simply say, “Speak Lord, for your servants is listening.”  Should our prayer be one of asking God to not just do something but to use us in the process?  Should we ask God to use us to resolve the problems we see? 

     When we ask God to being about healing, comforting, supplying; maybe at the end we should then say “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.”  Use us Lord to achieve the bringing of the kingdom of God to the world.  Perhaps, our prayers are too much about demanding God act and they should be prayers about God guiding us to be his hands, his voice and the working, moving parts here in this world.  When we ask God to act, we should then ask that we be the agents that he acts through.

    “Speak, for your servant listens.”  We are asking God to actively use us.  We are asking God to involve us, even when it hurts us to watch or be there.  Even when we are pained as we aid those whom God has led us to comfort those who are suffering, heal those in pain, feed those who are hungry.  “Speak, for your servant listens.”             

Father, we come before you seeking your grace.  We ask of you and we receive your mercy.  Speak Lord; lead us to listen to your Word.  Lead us to be your agents of mercy.  Guide us to those people who are in need of your comfort.  Lead us to bring healing and hope.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret