Spade High School Last Graduation

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Manipulative Faith

Matthew 6:5-7 "And now about prayer. When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I assure you, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly. Then your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered only by repeating their words again and again." - JESUS

Romans 8:26-27 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

Jeremiah 29:12-14 In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. I will be found by you," says the LORD.

Psalm 138:3 When I pray, you answer me; you encourage me by giving me the strength I need.

1 Kings 8:30 "May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive."

I am a person who believes in prayer. I love the precious gift of prayer offered to us by a benevolent, loving Creator God. I love the fact that my Savior is sitting at the right hand of God the Father, interceding for me and the whole creation, and that Jesus calls us into prayer in accordance with His heart. I love the Holy Spirit who prays for us at times when we have no idea how to even begin to articulate our prayers (Romans 8:26-27). Prayer is a gift - Prayer is a calling - Prayer leads us closer to God - Prayer helps us come to know God better - Prayer is intimate and relational, and at the same time corporate - Prayer is powerful - Prayer is a privilege - Prayer is for everyone.

PRAYER IS NOT...
a magic formula to get what we want. God listens to our hearts and desires, but true prayer is in accordance with God's heart and God's desires for our lives. The more tuned into God we are, the clearer our prayer life becomes. Have you ever had an internet prayer forwarded to you? Pretty stupid question, eh? We all have. Unfortunately, most of the forwarded internet prayers that get passed around are generally not about generating a sweet aroma of incense towards God, as much as about pleasing the person who started it. These Spiritual emails are genuinely manipulative, and self-serving (in my opinion). It drives me crazy when I read something that makes the reader feel that they are not faithful if they do not increase the number on the forward box and send it to as many people as possible. These are plain and simply chain letters, that are steeped in superstition, and capitalize on fear and manipulation. In a rare moment this morning, I was reading one and thought I would give it a chance. It sounded pretty good, so I was praying along with it in agreement up to a point, and then I just stopped cold and deleted the message. This is what was inserted into the middle of the prayer...

"I pray for those who will delete this without sharing it with others. I pray for those who don't believe. But I thank you that I believe."

We have all read these emails, some have even forwarded them on, but have you ever really thought about what the real message is...
God is a manipulative God - not a God of grace, mercy and love - you must perform by jumping through particular hoops in order to convince God that you believe.

Does it actually show a lack of faith when we feel like we must argue or manipulate someone into believing as we do? Can't we simply live our lives before others trusting that God is with us and glorified through us as we live bold, radically different, grace-filled lives? This type of prayer smacks of pagan ritual and belief. In a sense we feel that the more people we can guilt into a faith of works (i.e. passing on an email) the more points we score on the heavenly game card (see Matt. 6:5-7).

The God I serve and pray to does not work this way. My Lord, Jesus Christ is with me no matter what, always ready to forgive, always offering love, always helping me to keep my feet on the path of sanctification. I think it is important that we recognize how contrary to our Christian faith these email manipulations really are. Now, you need to go out and spread the word about these emails, or something terrible may happen, or you will miss out on a tremendous blessing, or...

Well, you get the point!

Exodus 8:9b "I will pray that you and your houses will be rid of the frogs."

Logan, the Sky Angel Cowboy

What is wisdom? How is wisdom acquired? Why does God deeply desire that we would "know" Him? To "know" God is to know God's love, mercy, compassion, and interest in all of His creation, especially His human creations. God is with us. we are not alone. Thanks be to God!