Friday Focus - another blog post on prayer

(quite a while ago)

I have immersed myself in another 21 days of prayer at a local church in the area.  I have used these events as my own prayer retreat and time to listen to others share their own journeys in speaking to our good, good Father.  Let me share with you this morning some thoughts from one of the presenters.

It seems in every family there is an "instigator."  This one you need to watch a little closer than the rest.  This one doesn't want to hold your hand but run on ahead.  In our family, it was our youngest named Jason who is pictured here.  We have many very goofy pictures of him who made us laugh but also caused some gray hairs to come a little too prematurely.

If the family goes beyond one child, then there is also the possibility of 

an "enforcer."  This one takes charge.  As a parent you are thankful for the extra help with "the instigator" when you are not there.  In our family of four children, "the enforcer" was our oldest named Anna who is pictured here.  Our boys didn't have just two parents but a third who kept them in line.

The problem comes into play when "the enforcer" keeps enforcing when the parent is in the room and the responsibility should be deferred to the adult.  Instead of coming to mom or dad with the problem,"the enforcer" proceeds to handle the situation with"the instigator."  Many times this leads to a correction of "the enforcer" who has been so helpful to you but now is creating more of a problem by being involved too much with your presence there.

For the record, I don't remember Anna doing this.  She always seemed to know when Mom or Dad was in the room.  It was a good example for me to remember because many times I think I forget that God is in the room and I need to go to Him rather than just jump in and solve the situation.

The world is "the instigator" creating all sorts of problems.  The church is "the enforcer" of the truth of God that we are to live and proclaim.  Sometimes the church tries to handle the world without regard to God's instruction given on what should be done; what should be said; or what should be prayed.  We forget that we are children of God and not God Himself.

Let us look at a Biblical example of this.  Jesus is in the garden the night prior to His death on the cross.  Judas, "the instigator," and his crowd come to get Jesus in trouble.  Peter, "the enforcer," pulls out his little sword and cuts off the ear of one of the mob.  Jesus, "the parent", steps in and tells "the enforcer" to put his sword away.  He will take care of this situation.  

How many times have I pulled out my little sword without first going to the Father, to Jesus, or to the Holy Spirit, and asking Him what I should do, what I should say, or what I should pray?  How many times have I made the mess messier and had to be corrected by Jesus and His word?  I end up apologizing, confessing, and asking for forgiveness for my attempt at correcting the problem "my way."  How we need to be reminded that we are the children of God and that our parent is in the room at all times for us to go to.  Romans chapter 8 and verses 14 through 17 says,

For all those led by God's Spirit are God's sons.  You did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear.  Instead, you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father!"  The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God's children, and if children, also heirs--heirs of God and coheirs with Christ--if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.

May we be in the practice of crying out to our God in the role He has put us in to speak and live the truth in love in the world we are placed but that we are not of.  

Adam