Word for Word 4/2/25

Blessings to all who read these wandering thoughts from a wayward follower of Jesus.   Let’s talk about prayer… Praying seems like such a simple thing to do. We pray at mealtimes, we pray at bedtime, we pray during church services, we pray during times of grief, life’s struggles, traumatic events, and at times of joy, thanksgiving, and blessings.

Typically, prayer is used as a defensive tool.  Something has happened or is about to happen and we seek intervention. But when was the last time you used prayer as an offensive tool, specifically in doing God’s work? When was the last time you used prayer as just a time to have a conversation with the All Mighty?   When was the last time you asked God what God wanted you to do, rather than asking God to bless what you wanted to do?   

God has put it on my heart to focus on prayer. Yes… my own prayer life, but also the prayer life of the Body of Christ (i.e., the church).  There are approximately 375 references to prayer just in the New Testament of the Bible. Prayer was a major part of Jesus’ earthly life. There are at least 38 references recorded in the bible about Jesus’ prayer life. First and foremost, prayer is a self-centering activity. It is not about everyone else, but about our relationship and connection with our God.   It is not asking God, what God can do for us, but what we and God can do together.  As I like to put it, we are co-creators in God’s will for His earthly Kingdom. In the sense God created us to do good works in Christ’s name (Ephesians 2:10). In Genesis 1:26 God gave us dominion over all the living things of the earth.

That is mighty lofty, so let’s look at on a simpler level. I have a basement and garage full of tools. But unless I pick them up and use them nothing will get built or nothing will get fixed.  Church (the community of believers), the Bible, Prayer, Bible studies, etc. are all tools God has given us. Unless we pick them up and use them… our faith will never grow, and the lost will not be saved. God’s work on this earth will not get done.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us, “Pray without ceasing”.  

There is a second aspect to all of this… the knowledge to use the tools for what they are intended to be used for and to learn to use them to obtain maximum results. Take a home computer… Most people only learn to use a computer to do a few tasks, like type a letter, receive and send e-mails, play games, or get on the Internet.    But a computer can do so much more… programs to organize our life, manage our finances, to communicate with others in many different formats, to inform and learn, and even to grow our faith.

Prayer is just like our computer or smart phone or any other high-tech gadget… we only use a fraction of the potential it has to offer. Just as every gadget or tool comes with a manual... so does prayer… it’s called the Bible. And just like every gadget and tool, unless we spend time using it, we will never discover its full potential.  

A third aspect to this discussion is sharing with others. My dad and grandfather built the house I was raised in. They both taught me about carpentry. I still have tools that were handed down to me. I used these skills and tools to better my life, and yes, to save money by doing it myself. Then one year our Conference decided to sponsor and help build a Habitat for Humanity House. Those carpentry skills and tools honed over a lifetime, gave me the confidence to participate in the build. Not just as another volunteer, but to lead and teach others during the build. Honing our skills in prayer will also expand our outreach to others.  

The final aspect is… “Why?”. Some of you have heard me say, “Why we do… what we do… effects what we do”. Why do you pray?  Are you going into your prayer time with a sense of expectation or expectancy?  In other words, are you hoping something will happen or do you know something will happen. Is prayer the start of something or the means of finishing or completing something?

Prayer is not only about asking, but also about receiving. It is not only a defensive tool but also an offensive one. May God open a whole new perspective of prayer in your life… And all the people said… Amen!

Pastor James Buckhahn, United Methodist Church, Lansing