“Flipping the Coin on Prayer”

“Flipping the Coin on Prayer”

                This might be a tongue in cheek title for this reflection on

prayer but what is the chances—should we even use this word- of your prayer getting answered the way you want? Let’s reflect on this for a moment. At any given moment God is receiving billions and billions of prayer requests for everything from a good test result on a math quiz to a diagnosis that is not cancer. But will your prayer be answered?

                Jesus was asked this question by his disciples because they witnessed him spending hours and hours in dialogue with God. Why was prayer to important to Jesus? Why should it be important to us? What happens when we pray? For many people it is a recitation time—rambling off the words of the Lord’s Prayer quickly so that one can go to sleep or do what is scheduled for the day. Other people spend many hours just sitting quietly in contemplative prayer invoking mantra words and letting their minds wander over what is happening in their lives. Still others are crisis pray-ers only. They can be counted upon to pray for any and every uncertain situation. When traffic is backed up and stopped, when a person is injured, when a soon to be mom goes into labour these are the prayer warriors.

                But what does prayer do? God hears so many prayers for peace in the world yet we know that Jesus said without him there is no peace. We often pray for the poor amongst us and Jesus stated that there will always be poor. So what are we doing as we pray? Is it for our sake, the other or for God that we should pray?

                The simple answer is all the above. Our prayers will not change God’s nature, purpose or function, but we who pray will be changed.  Just reflect on the last time you sat with your family and prayed- was it before a meal, in a time of crisis, or a celebration? Were those who were present changed? Often what occurs is simply a breath of air that calms our stress, slows our heartrates and then a shifting of focus to what our relationship is and can be with Jesus.

                How do you pray? Jesus calls us to ‘go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. ..Do not heap up empty phrases with many words, because God knows what you need before you ask.” Matthew 6:6-8

                Prayer changes everything, We often see this on billboards, posters or t-shirts. But what does it mean? When we pray for others God is asked to bless the one be prayed for; to have the Spirit envelop them in protection and safety and to lift them up with life. Prayer changes the one who states the words or if unable to verbally say what is in their hearts, the Spirit intervenes and brings forth thoughts of love and devotion.              How are you praying to God? Let us focus our hearts and minds on Him, and he will hear us and respond with love.

PRAYER

God of grace we praise you because you call us to be in conversation and dialogue with you. So we share our thoughts, concerns and l=praise. Be with s we as pray and enable us to know that you have heard our voice filled with hope and love. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.