Thoughts for another day

June 20, 2013.

Today's verse: Mt. 15:8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. (KJV)

(Pls. read the above before you read further.  Thanks)

In the many churches we have, the leaders, pastors, priests, etc. exhort the faithful to do many things which in their knowledge or opinion, honors God; and the chief practice that many advocate is, prayer.  In fact the exhortation to prayer is a great character of the church and even before the Christian church began, the fore-runners that is the Jews, had the practice of prayer in their lives. 

As to the action of prayer, there’s no issue because we know that closeness to God means praying and by praying it can be seen that one is close to God. However, many Christians actually don’t know how to pray.  You may ask, what do you know about prayer that I don’t; I’ll say, prayer is nothing but a word, a sentence or a conversation with God.  It’s not and I repeat, not a monotonous repetition of the same words, used day by day, repeated by rote and often said unthinkingly.   There’re some who very devotedly pray, repeating the same words over and over again and it happens in many churches and many denominations and really it’s nothing but a waste of time.  God in His mercy, because He has seen you keep aside some time to be in His Presence may give you Graces untold, but don’t even think it is because you prayed.

Real prayer is an intense slogging on God’s turf: seeking Him, His Presence and His Glory.  Real prayer considers not your sacrifice of keeping time for prayer, rather it demands you do that; it’s anxious to be noticed by the Almighty and if He hasn’t, you question how serious was your effort in calling out to Him so He may send His glance toward you.  Real prayer is when you forget yourself and dive deep into the vastness of God; then maybe glean a wee bit of the knowledge of God and Who He really is.  It’s in that moment of intense reflection that you discover who you are vis-à-vis God and how solid you are because of Him.  The publican was lauded by Jesus because he of all, had been able to really pray.  I believe we must ask ourselves a question:  Do I draw near to Him with my mouth and my heart miles away; do I honor Him with my lips but deep within am cold to Him?