How's your prayer life? Are you spending time talking with God? As we're all gearing up for the busy season in church, I know how easy it is to use the excuse that we're just busy and forget. Believe me I know how it goes; I do it to God, as well as my mom. However unlike my mom, God doesn't post on Facebook that you haven't talked in a while for the entire world to see.
I remember being a young Christian - praying solely out of obligation. Praying at meals and before bed was a routine, not something I desired. I never knew what to pray about, and simply tried to offset what I thought God considered “nagging” by counting my blessings. When my wife and I had our first child, I quickly learned how God must feel when I talk to him. I will stop whatever I am doing at work when my son calls. I want to hear him tell me what he did during the day, even though I already know what he did. He's only three years old, but these sorts of conversations changed my whole perspective on my relationship with God.
Jesus says, "What do you want Me to do for you?” Why is that so hard for us to grasp?
While reading in Mark a few weeks ago, Mark 10:51 jumped off the page to me. As Jesus and the disciples are walking through Jericho they pass a man named Bartimaeus (incidentally that's the name I chose for our next son, but it was black balled) who is blind. He calls out to Jesus and is quickly scoffed at by the crowd for bothering Jesus. None of that mattered to him, he just kept yelling.
Jesus stops and asks for the man to be called over. Here is what jumped out to me in verse 51: “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him. Jesus, being God, knew exactly what the man wanted, but asked him anyway.
This struck me as I realized a flaw in my leadership. One of my big goals recently has been to recruit more production volunteers. Not just for the weekend but for weekly activities as well --- something we do not have a huge number of people for. What I realized was, I was not praying for these new people. I was trying to do it on my own. Not because I thought I could it better but because I just didn't think about it. Prayer was for those hurting on my team, not a plea from me to God to send more people. I realized, just as Jesus can give Bartimaeus sight when he asks, He will bring people to the team if I ask. James 4:2 …”You have not because you ask not.” God wants to hear our needs.
Are you spending time in the Word and asking God specifically what you need? I don't believe this to be some sort of “name it and claim it” theology, but Jesus himself asking, “What do you want Me to do for you?” Why is the simple so hard to grasp sometimes? I know this may seem cliché, but God does want to hear from you this Christmas season. Let him know what is frustrating you, what you're concerned about and what you're thankful for.
I have started keeping a manly prayer journal where I mark the ways he's answering my prayers for my team. Give it try – you might be surprised.
