Thursday, August 31, 2006

WWJDed.

WWJD it's a very useful slogan for reminding yourself who you are living for, but sometimes it doesn't really help at all.
I mean, think for a moment what did Jesus spend most of his time doing?
Healing? Preaching? Socializing? Walking?

Well it would seem [from reading the Gospels] that Jesus' most regular activity was praying. He would regularly head off (often before anyone else was up, and in those days that was real early!) and spend time with his Heavenly Father. It was this that characterised him; every action and word poured out of these times.

So WWJD? He'd spend time with his Heavenly Father (and this would cost him because sleep is a precious commodity) and allow this to direct his entire life. This is also what he encourages us to do:
"Here's what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won't be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace." Matt 6:6 (Msg)

Here [just before he laid out a 'model prayer'] Jesus helpfully prescribes a condition for our [prayer] lives. The condition was for us not to use the model prayer as a block on having an intimate and vibrant relationship [or prayer life] with God. Our Heavenly Father is not looking for a tick list or a recital but simply openness.

The 'Lord's Prayer' can be a powerful and God revealing prayer to pray together corporately at times, but if that is all we can recite when we are alone with God our relationship will quickly loose its vibrancy and life. Our eagerness to spend time alone with God will wane because we receive nothing from it.
Can you imagine Jesus doing that?!

So many of our relationships are based upon role-playing (i.e. we behave like a father with our children but as a son with our dad). But this sort of thing will never work with God. Religious sounding words may sound impressive in a prayer meeting, but they mean nothing when meeting with God alone in prayer. Often we try to hide in words but God knows us completely [deep inside and out... and loves us completely] and so what is there to hide [from]?
When we are not trying to hide, we find ourselves in God's presence. More than this though, we find ourselves as God sees us, as dearly beloved children.

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