I recognize the “feeling”, my friend, but learned long ago that silence did not mean He didn’t hear me. By that I don’t so much mean all my requests get filled, but that I find Him more often in the journey when I look back rather than demand an appearance. I also have learned that His presence seems to embrace me more when I recognize His grace on my behalf and when I get lost in gratitude for that which He has already done. Of course, that’s a lot of “I”s and we each walk our own path in this. I was reading some Yancey this morning and he spoke of a woman who taught him we must come to the practice of inviting Him into all that we do, making in such manner all the daily events of our life, in themself, a conversation, or “prayer”. Nothing, absolutely nothing, however, replaces an encounter. Romans puts it in terms of “from faith to faith”; and surely we all walk that space between, needing Him, needing each other……
Maybe he prayed all that time, then was done and walked away confident that God WILL answer his prayer. Maybe he considered those hours time well-spent. Maybe he enjoyed it.
Maybe he was bored out of his mind. Maybe he was thinking about the movie he wanted to see later. Maybe he’s just as “good” a Christian as if he had prayed the whole time.
To me, it is a brilliant reminder that prayer *may* include us talking to God, but it should mostly include us humbly listening to God for as long as it takes us to hear clearly. I recognize it could mean other things. Nicely done pastor.
Very divine, David. What this cartoon says to me, and even if it says anything, all depends on my starting assumptions: much like what I receive in prayer.
Hmmm….but suppose they had given up in the upper room? Ca’n't you hear it? “Hey, Peter… i’m going home…we’ve been up here for nine days…lets face it..we missed God…we really are presumptuous thinking he’d give US power…Jesus was just being polite…he knew he woudn’t have to face us…” Or if they had given up at Jericho? At about the third time around on the 7th day…
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
I recognize the “feeling”, my friend, but learned long ago that silence did not mean He didn’t hear me. By that I don’t so much mean all my requests get filled, but that I find Him more often in the journey when I look back rather than demand an appearance. I also have learned that His presence seems to embrace me more when I recognize His grace on my behalf and when I get lost in gratitude for that which He has already done. Of course, that’s a lot of “I”s and we each walk our own path in this. I was reading some Yancey this morning and he spoke of a woman who taught him we must come to the practice of inviting Him into all that we do, making in such manner all the daily events of our life, in themself, a conversation, or “prayer”. Nothing, absolutely nothing, however, replaces an encounter. Romans puts it in terms of “from faith to faith”; and surely we all walk that space between, needing Him, needing each other……
Wow…he waited a good while. I would have fallen asleep.
Maybe he prayed all that time, then was done and walked away confident that God WILL answer his prayer. Maybe he considered those hours time well-spent. Maybe he enjoyed it.
Maybe he was bored out of his mind. Maybe he was thinking about the movie he wanted to see later. Maybe he’s just as “good” a Christian as if he had prayed the whole time.
God answers every prayer, sometimes the answer is no.
I DON’T GET IT!!
Yep! this is exactly how I’m feeling right now.
Except I don’t have that much patience…
To me, it is a brilliant reminder that prayer *may* include us talking to God, but it should mostly include us humbly listening to God for as long as it takes us to hear clearly. I recognize it could mean other things. Nicely done pastor.
Very divine, David. What this cartoon says to me, and even if it says anything, all depends on my starting assumptions: much like what I receive in prayer.
Hmmm….but suppose they had given up in the upper room? Ca’n't you hear it? “Hey, Peter… i’m going home…we’ve been up here for nine days…lets face it..we missed God…we really are presumptuous thinking he’d give US power…Jesus was just being polite…he knew he woudn’t have to face us…” Or if they had given up at Jericho? At about the third time around on the 7th day…