Impulsive Banter
I realize that I should just pray. A deep reverence for the Lord and his presence is a must in the Christian life but it has in some ways kept me from impromptu time with my Lord. I deal with a lot more anxiety and tension in my life than I care to think about all at once. Everyone does. Although it shouldn’t lead us to paralyzing phobia about our very existence; it’s true that we all deal with so much in one lifetime that we dare not bring it all to mind casually for the terror of snapping under the pressure. And so I just don’t think about it. And It hasn’t helped. Leaky piping eventually catches up to you. The weeks I have to prepare for a sermon, I find myself in prayer; generally out of the realization that only God can bless the sermon. What other choice do I have? Like Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” So I have to pray. For the deliverance of God’s Word I have no choice but to run to the source. And so I pray and those times have always been good. My Lord has never left me wanting. His arm was indeed long enough for me.
I saw a construction worker next to my car at a rest stop, turn off his drill and pick up his phone. He was working on a project for the New Jersey Turnpike but that obviously didn’t stop him from picking up a call from his children. “Hi honey!” I heard him say. Well, my Father is orchestrating the work of Redemptive History…but he is ready to take my call. So I should just pray. Whenever my heart feels a drip of sadness, I should just pray. When anxiety peers its ugly head, I should just pray. And even though I have to leave my house in a few minutes, I should just pray. Because my time with my Lord is precious but that doesn’t require it be long.
So I am thinking now that… I should just pray. Perhaps when I’m showering, I should just converse with Christ. When I’m driving to school maybe I’ll call on the Lord. As I flip through TV channels with no luck finding any Fresh Prince, maybe I’ll lift up a prayer. I know there ought to be a preparation of the heart for the Lord is holy..but my Jesus is personal. And these two are not contradictory. In fact, they converge to draw me in worship. So I should go to my Lord because he cares for me.
I think I didn’t realize how much I missed my Father. Just speaking to him and spilling my guts. Or even a, “Lord, I don’t have anything to say but I have some time and I’m not going to do much with it at all so I just wanted to say I am thinking of you.” I’m not sure why I deprive myself…because my Jesus is precious to me.
The Father isn’t only waiting for grave injuries but even the scraped knees of his child. His brow bled under thorns for such small prayers from me. His side was pierced for my prayers of venting. And even his last breath for my simple “thank you’s” or “I’m sorry’s.” For if it wasn’t the cross, my prayers would remain filthy rags but under the timbers of Calvary they are the prayers from a loved son. So why not just pray? I should, shouldn’t I? Yeah. I think I’ll just pray, to my Father who is ready for my call.
14Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
