Two ears, One mouth

The Lord of Hosts says, “Come Let us reason together.” Our God is calling us to a real, active, participatory conversation with Him. This may involve times of singing, reflection, whispering, vocalized prayer, et cetera. One time too many, prayer leaders and their practices have convinced us into seeing prayer as a monologue where people who shout, look energetic, walk up and down or use grade-A queen’s language to express themselves are deemed ‘prayerful’ or ‘spiritual’. And I haven’t forgotten our great tongue-speakers who impress, intimidate or distract us with all manner of tongues which would have done us much good if they were interpreted. We’ll leave that for another time but our focal point is:  Are we missing something about prayer in the midst of the noise, euphoria and unending chattering in our personal prayer altars and at our congregational meetings? What is God saying to you and I concerning the passing year as well as the one we are looking forward to? How does He want you to relate to the people He has surrounded you with? What is God saying about the way you treated your parents and siblings last year? Did you use the money He put at your disposal prudently? Were you diligent in your prayer for those He’s put in your care as a leader?

Beloved in Christ, the God of Heaven is in an intimate relationship with you and longs for a dialogue in every detail of your life. It is in prayer that He teaches us areas of our lives we are to be more obedient and empowers us to overcome the hurdles that look insurmountable. He longs to spend time with us sifting through the difficulties we have in loving our enemies, the lack of discipline in our time usage, our relationship with our neighbors, the way we use our finances, etc, etc. Please don’t scream out at Him for hours and run off when you are done as if He is a dumb deity in thin air who has nothing to say! In fact, I believe we should spend more time in prayer listening to what He has to say than talking (Yes at our public meetings). We should let our prayer be honest and intimate. They should be replete with adorations, worship, discussions, jokes, questions, pleas, etc. He is interested in all. If we would be a little more patient, attentive, quiet, still and trusting, we will enjoy a true fellowship with Jesus.

Os Guinness made these points on solitude in prayer in his classic, The Call:  The importance of solitude to the practice of living before the Audience of One (God) is primary to prayer in the midst of activities, audiences and congregations which are crying out for expression. Whereas normal life puffs up our sense of self-importance and locks us into patterns of thought and behavior dependent on others, solitude liberates us from these entanglements by carving out a space from which we can see ourselves and our situation before the Audience of One. Whether viewed as ‘the desert’ or the ‘closet’, solitude provides the private place where we can take our bearings and so make the Lord our North Star that we remain fixed on as we return to society.

As you pray into 2011, focus on God’s calling upon your life. Remember that calling is a matter of “everyone, everywhere, and in everything” living life in response to God’s summons. Look unto Jesus as the sustainer and keeper of life. Jesus, as one scholar noted, is not a religious leader, but Lord of all of Life. Responding to His call touches the world of commerce as well as preaching, the depths of the lake, not just the shore. All that we are, all that we do, all that we have, and even all that we think and dream is called into question by this demand. Once again, it is a matter of everyone, everywhere, and everything.  Listen to Him as He communicates His agenda to you personally concerning the coming year. Jesus Christ reminded us to let our words be few when we come before our Father, for He is in heaven, and we are on earth. Be attentive to His bidding at all times and at all places for Behold, HE SPEAKETH. He is more than happy to lead you in His paths of righteousness by communing DIRECTLY with you!  You see, there is ONE Mediator between God and Man. His name is Jesus Christ the Lord.

Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. He will meet with you there and commune with you. Do you wish to be inner-directed rather than other-directed and truly make decisions based on what He says alone? LISTEN TO JESUS OF NAZARETH; ANSWER HIS CALL.