What Prayer Is Not

[D. Allan]

From First Community Church newsletter, Dublin, OH.

Your Mission...Should You Choose to Accept It

Friday, February 23, 2007 Comments (0)

Most of the confusion surrounding prayer would be cleared up if we were to rid ourselves of the false images of prayer. Then, there would be room for the true images of prayer. In this column, I will name the false images of prayer. In my next column I’ll talk about the true images.

Let’s name what prayer is not.

1.Prayer is not pulling strings to get a favor from God.

2.Prayer is not magic.

A great anthropologist said, "Magic is an attempt to control supernatural powers so that I can get what I want. Prayer, on the other hand, is a process of surrender so that we might become instruments through whom the Holy can work."

3.Prayer is not something that works if you are extra good or spiritual. For every good person you can name who has had a good thing happen to them because they prayed hard enough, I will name ten people who sit among you on Sunday morning who prayed just as hard and fervently and still got lousy cards dealt to them - everything from cancer to business catastrophes to their children pledging to never speak to them again.

4.Prayer is not to be understood.

In John 3:8 Jesus said: "You know well enough how the wind blows this way and that. You hear it rustling through the trees, but you have no idea where it comes from or where it's headed next. That’s the way it is with everyone 'born from above' by the wind of God, the Spirit of God."

5.Prayer is NOT talking, but listening.

Nicky Gumbel said, "For most people, prayer is like going to the doctor and telling him of all your symptoms and then leaving before the doctor can make a response." Ancient traditions of contemplative prayer encourage the practice of emptying oneself before God in silence and stillness of thought, so that one might be filled with God’s presence.

So, in Lent, your mission (should you decide to accept it), is not to take something up, but to give up something. Give up the false images of prayer.

Then, for a change, begin by listening as the first thing you do when you pray.

Peace to your path,

Dr. Richard A. Wing

Senior Minister

[rudywoofs (Pam)]

Thanks, D.Allan, for passing that along... Now I'm interested to see what the author says are the TRUE images of prayer, as he has said:

Quote:

In this column, I will name the false images of prayer. In my next column I’ll talk about the true images.

[Woody]

Quote:

Prayer is NOT talking, but listening.

I sure like this.

[Gail]

I like this article. Thanks for sharing it!

I know that frequently I have to stop and be honest with what exactly my motive is for this prayer or that. God is not a genie to be manipulated, and if you haven't learned that lesson life will teach it to you!

[D. Allan]

I'm so pleased you guys liked the article. I'll be sure to post the sequel when the next newletter comes.

___________________________

Understanding and love are not two things, but just one. -Thich Nhat Hanh