PAPA prayer day 8 -- Other-centered prayer = Other-centered actions
That is the formula Crabb sees when he discusses relational prayer, and YEA! He uses John 15:4-7 – Jesus telling us to remain in Him, to abide in Him as a branch sticks close to the vine.
This idea of building-block prayer is a lot like a love relationship. When you spend time with someone, get to know them, you begin to share more personal thoughts and events, and your relationship grows. Only after you come to know the person, who they are, and who they are to you, do you get to the stage of gratitude and then to petition. The author is right in that many Christians go at prayer backwards, beginning with a feeling of entitlement and prayers of petition only, or perhaps prayers of thanks when their requests are answered the way they hoped.
Love is more concerned with what will make the other happy and finds total delight for oneself just in being with that special person. Imagine the disappointment on the face of the one we love the most, if the first thing we did in the morning, and the last thing at night was recite a list of things we wanted for them to do for us or to give us. When we delight ourselves in the miracle of receiving their love, we instead should be looking for how we can make that person delighted, and how we can send that wonderful love back. Love begets love. Asking, demanding, only requesting – well, I would think that would beget disinterest, for I know that I would soon think the person is not interested in me at all.
In Chapter 5, Crabb gets to this, describing the prayer of a spoiled child – claiming John 14:14 (Jesus said, “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.”) without fulfilling the central –perspective – IN MY NAME.
For years I worked as an administrative assistant and had to sometimes fulfill some duties, in the name (or in place of) my boss – as he or she would have done it. As we were raising our children, we agreed on certain rewards and disciplines. If only one of us were there, we had to fulfill it in the name of our spouse – as he or she would have done if there. You have to know the other person thoroughly and intimately to make those responses and decisions. Regarding relational prayer, then, the question is – How do I know what Jesus wants or what He would do about something in order to pray in HIS name instead of in mine? More on that tomorrow.
Today's food: Strawberry smoothie and lettuce salad topped with warm veggies and chicken. Warmed cabbage, carrots, sugar snap peas and carrots. Delicious.
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