Why in my right mind would I ever pray for a tattooed buffoon who wined and dined with the murderous dictator of North Korea, Kim Jong-un? What good would that ever do?
Well, that's just it! God's business is really none of my business. When it comes to prayer he wants me simply to pray for people, including my enemies. We think we have life figured out, our understanding of the world and others is THE right view. So, in our conceit, we go to prayer to tell God what he needs to do to make the world better. We advise him on how to run it, who should be the winners & losers, and we offer him OUR great solutions because he probably has run out of ideas. In reality prayer works in just the opposite way. I pray because I am helpless, I pray because I am clueless, and I pray because I am dependent for God to carry out, "Thy will be done!" You may be wondering how Dennis Rodman could possibly ever be part of God's will? He is made in his image, and so is everyone of your enemies & irritants -- and Jesus died for them too! You do not have a corner on his grace (otherwise his love would be conditional, and if it was there is no chance for even you!). Did you know Jesus also died for Joe Biden, Rosie O'Donnell, and all atheist professors who wear a tweed jackets? We need too even pray for those who vehemently disagree with our ideas and blog posts. And if you are one of those who hate my writings, you need to pray for me because it is more than obvious...that I need it! And while we are on speaking terms, have you ever once prayed for George Bush or those who wear wide ties to church and love to sing Bill Gaither songs? Prayer is dependence, not quiet time to figure things out or solve the world's problems. Mary the mother of Jesus knew what prayer was when the host ran out of wine at a wedding. It was an unsolvable problem that she knew only Jesus could fix. And boy did he ever: out of unsuspecting water jars flowed the smoothest wine ever! And yes, it was wine. For those who don't think so "I'll pray for you." Wait a minute, wait just one minute...after reading this post, does that mean...does that mean...I have to pray for the President too? Especially him!
5 Comments
Doug
1/17/2014 01:38:00 am
Wow, you are right on with one Chris. It is one ofthe hardest things in life to do, pray for those who we think are unlovable, mean, dishonest or just plain different. I have even had a hard time praying for my ex-wife even though that ended almost 17yrs ago. But I know that I should do it more often, when I do pray for her I do it more for our children than I do for her good
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Christopher Weeks
1/17/2014 01:51:19 am
Thanks Doug!
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Buddy
1/17/2014 10:07:28 am
Good stuff as always Chris :) The older I get the more prayer becomes this unspoken channel of trust (me trusting Him). I trust that his Will will be done in spite of me. I can verbalize a request or I can simply trust in his perfection to be about his business. The other thing I'm constantly reminded of lately is that God doesn't NEED me for anything. He isn't goaded into action simply because I am or 200 people are praying about an issue. He choses to do his will whether 2000 or 0 people pray about it. Prayer is oftentimes a way of giving him glory for whatever he chooses to do before we know what it is.
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Christopher Weeks
1/17/2014 11:52:18 am
Amen Buddy, Amen!
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Nay
12/14/2017 10:35:46 pm
If you look at Dennis Rodman's life and his transition to who he is today, you may see someone who is looking for answers (or crying for help). I was looking a for a group who was praying for him and I came across your website. Yes, I feel the need to pray for him as well. We should pray for spiritual eyes this way we do not condemn people with name calling. "Therefore let him that thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he fall." 1 Corinthians 10:12 Let us be careful with self righteousness. "But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away." Is. 64:6 I pray because I am moved with compassion for his condition. I pray also for many of us American Christians who think we have it right. Luke 12:48 says it best...we would be judge more harshly for what we know than ones who didn't.
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