Prayer is my ultimate reality check. I
can fool some of the people some of the time, I can fool myself some of
the time, but I cannot fool God. Prayer is the place I go to find out
how I am doing. If I am getting into trouble, I can probably get
straightened out with prayer.
Sometimes I bring unnecessary problems on myself. Many mistakes seem
like a good idea at the time. The way that seems right gets me into
difficulty over and over again. I need a periodic reality check to
avoid the way that seems right, but leads to disaster. Prayer is that
reality check. It clarifies my vision. It’s not asking for a miracle
or trying to make my problems disappear. I pray to discover how things
really are so I don’t fool myself and follow the way that seems right,
but ends in tragedy.
If I pull on a long rope that connects a boat to shore, I don’t pull the
shore to the boat. Instead, I pull the boat to the shore. That is the
way it is with prayer. When I pull on the rope that connects me to God,
I don’t pull God to my way of doing things. I pull myself to his way of
doing things. Prayer is the way I align myself with God’s program for
my life. Prayer doesn’t change God. Prayer changes me.
Prayer is the
ultimate reality check. You can fool some of the people some of the
time. You can fool yourself some of the time. You can never fool God.
Prayer is a place you go to find out how you are doing. If you are
getting into trouble, you can probably get straightened out during
prayer.
You bring many problems on yourself. So many mistakes seem like a good
idea at the time. A scripture says, "There is a way that seems right
unto a man, but the ends thereof are death." Those words summarize the
disasters of countless lives. When your hormones are talking, there is
a way that seems right unto a man. When you are consumed by greed,
there is a way that seems right unto a man. When you want something you
cannot afford, there is a way that seems right unto a man. The way that
seems right gets you into trouble again and again. You need a periodic
reality check if you want avoid the way that seems right, and prayer is
that reality check.
Prayer clarifies your vision. Prayer isn't asking for a miracle or
trying to make your problems disappear. You pray to discover the way
things actually are so you don't fool yourself and follow the way that
seems right, but ends in disaster.
ALIGN YOURSELF WITH GOD'S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE
Go out in a boat and toss a line to shore. After the line is made fast
to shore, pull on the line. When you do this, you don't pull the shore
to the boat. Instead, you pull the boat to shore. That's the way it
works with prayer. When you pull on the rope connecting you to God, you
don't pull God to your way of doing things. Instead, you pull yourself
to God's way of doing things. You align yourself with God's program
for your life.
Most of the time when people pray, they ask God to help them escape from
trouble or to get something they want. While there is nothing wrong
with praying when you are in difficulty, you would be better off if you
would pray in a manner that prevents you from getting into trouble in
the first place. Prayer keeps you from taking the way that seems right,
but ends in misery.
PRAYER DOESN'T CHANGE GOD - PRAYER CHANGES YOU
Once you are in trouble, prayer won't change God. However, prayer will
change you. When you stop trying to make God solve your problems, and
get on with the business of finding out what He wants you to do about
them, you have discovered what prayer is all about.
The purpose of
prayer isn't to change God. It's to change you. You need to pray until
you have done an ultimate reality check and found out where you are and
what you need to do.
You don't need to get God aligned with your program for life. You need
to get yourself aligned with his program. Spirituality is a very
personal matter. God has an agenda and direction for your life that no
one else knows. Nobody can talk to God and find out his agenda for
you. That's your unique privilege, and it forms the core of your life's
adventure with God.
Some people carry an enormous burden of false beliefs about themselves
and about their potential for excellence. They continually focus on
their limitations rather than on their possibilities.
Prayer helps them detect and eliminate harmful false beliefs. They step
higher and run faster without those burdens on their back. They
discover the truth that sets them free.
Go ahead. Do an ultimate reality check and find out about God's plan
for your life. Then hang on for the ride, because it's time to max out
on God's love.
