Prayer is a mysterious thing. You've heard that, haven't you? I know I have. I don't like that word - mysterious. Let's define it, shall we? Mysterious (adj) from the root mystery: a religious truth known by revelation alone; something not understood or beyond understanding; enigmatic quality or character; a work of fiction dealing with the solution of a mysterious crime. Okay, I think we can rule out the fourth definition. I believe in earlier days the first definition might have been the use for the phrase. Prayer is indeed known through revelation. However, I feel led that people today choose this saying based off of the second definition - not understood and beyond our understanding.
What things do we pray for? Healing, money, job promotions, children, life. One person's baby lives, another dies. Both prayed. Prayer is a mysterious thing. Two people work hard. Both pray. One gets the job, the other doesn't. Or one gets a raise, the other doesn't. One gets the recognition, the other doesn't. Prayer is a mysterious thing. An addict recovers, another dies. Families have prayed. Prayer is a mysterious thing. Two people have cancer. One is healed. The other dies. Both prayed. Prayer is a mysterious thing. You see, we don't know what God is thinking. Why is one family forced to suffer while another experiences a miracle? It isn't "fair." Well, life is not fair. We see in the New Testament where it is asked, "Who sinned, the man or the man's parents?" Jesus replies that it is so people can see the power of God. When a child's life is lost - is it to show God's power? I think it can. I think followers can show that there will be joy after the mourning and thus reveal how the power of God can overcome our hurt and anguish. A person lives life with a deformity or mental instability, God's power can shine through. The issue at hand is often that God is 1- not a genie in a bottle to grant our every desire, and 2- the giver of free will. Free will brought a choice in the garden. That choice brought sin. Sin brought death, sickness, and destruction (continuing on through the generations). Free will means that God does not interrupt our daily comings and goings just because he can. So if we choose to live in anguish, sorrow, or anger, we often miss the joy that comes after pain. We miss out on healing and the presence of God. I don't necessarily believe that prayer is mysterious. Prayer is a conversation with God. Conversation means a two way street. We both speak and listen. Too many have chosen to speak without listening in this world. Shouting matches on news shows prove this nightly. The one who is quiet is considered weaker, unable to make their point heard. So we talk. We yell. We cry. But do we listen. I believe when we listen those mysteries are revealed. Just this week my car decided it wanted to break. Literally, pieces wore down until they were no more. Monday as life was racing and I was running out of time due to Babs (my jeep) wearing down and breaking, I decided to throw a hail Mary. (No pun intended.) I gave God the "I could really use a miracle right now" prayer. And with my head on the steering wheel I could hear the sweet laughter of God in my heart. "You know that's not how this worked," was whispered to me. I sat back knowing, God is not a mechanic (though he could be if he wanted to be). Of course, my prayer was met by the tow truck I called. Eventually things did work out okay. I did receive a miracle of sorts. All told I spent about $228 to fix up Babs. Not exactly great news, but in car world mechanics, that is hardly anything. My miracle prayer wasn't answered immediately - Here ya go, Jewel. Car is fixed. It was gradual - Do you trust me? Will you still praise me? You know I have this, right? In hearing the sweet laughter and knowing that my miracle prayer wouldn't work, I was given the ability to smile. I didn't form an angry mob against God because my gear didn't slip back into place. No, instead I relied on the well worn relationship that I have with my Father. I laughed with a, "I had to give it a try" when it was revealed that it wouldn't work. Prayer is a mysterious thing when we don't know who we're praying to. If God is some great giant being that we can never come to understand, so distant and far away that we don't know if he hears us, than prayer will always be a mystery. If we know our God and creator the way he wants us to there will still be mysteries untold. God is far too large for our feeble minds to fully comprehend. But it's our job to find out as much as possible. It's our job to engage in this relationship and not let it be a one sided love story. Prayer is also communication with God. God is three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. When we choose a life with Christ, and the Holy Spirit dwells within us, that is where the communication comes in. We pray to God (Father) in most situations. I however, choose to yell, "Jesus take the wheel!" far to often. Jesus is said to be our intercessor. He goes before God with our requests. Perhaps that is one reason why I often "address" my prayers straight in the name of Jesus. The Bible teaches that we should ask in his name. Do it! Sheesh. When our answer comes to us, whether immediately or days, weeks, months, years, later, it is the Holy Spirit that interprets that answer. He reveals what God is teaching us and speaking to us. It is that still small voice not the announcement speaker we hope for. I believe this is God's main focus on communication with us so that we remember to shut our mouths to hear him. Prayer is not that mysterious when we dive into the mystery of God. The Bible tells us to "draw near to God and He will draw near" to us. We draw near by reading the Bible, praising his name, and praying to him. Prayer can be a mysterious thing, but it doesn't have to be.
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