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Why I’ve Tried Stop to Saying “I’ll Pray for You”

5th Grade, Devotional, Elementary, Parents, prayer, Preschool, Volunteers No Responses »

May 162013

I know many people have “one word” they are focusing on for the year. While I have not been entirely focused on this concept, I have felt God calling me to a specific area of focus this year. For me, that word is obedience.

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Obedience: to follow. No matter what.

Yes, I made up that definition. But truly, I feel like God has been reminding me in ways, big and small, my only job is to follow him. To be obedient.

We know we’re supposed to obey God, right? I mean, it sounds simple. And it’s all over the Bible, the command to obey.

Here are some examples in God’s word (emphasis is mine):

“Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22

“Jesus replied, ‘Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My father will love them and we will come to them and make our home with them.” John 14:23

“And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love.” 1 John 1:6

So what does this look like in real life? Just because it’s stated over and over again doesn’t mean it’s easy to actually live out.

For me, God has been speaking in many ways. I could give you lots of ways God has spoken to me about obedience. Today, though, we’ll just go with one. One of the ways it’s been clear I need to be more obedient is in prayer. Let me give you an example:

Have you ever had someone tell you something and asked you to pray for it and then you walk away and realize 3 days later you haven’t spent any time actually praying for that request? I know I have. And I always have the best of intention. Well, in my intent to be obedient this year, I don’t ever want to forget to pray when someone asks me to. When I tell someone I will pray for something, I want keep my commitment to them and to God. I want to be obedient to God’s call to lift up each other in prayer.

Because of this, I’ve stopped saying “I will pray for you” and I’ve started saying “Can I pray for you right now?”

I may have the best of intentions. I may actually do it later. But in order to be obedient to the call of prayer, I’ve started just praying. Right then. Here’s what I’ve found:

*It allows the two of us praying together to share a moment that neither of us would have if we would have prayed separately.

*It often gives immediate peace to the person being prayed over.

* It means I really DO pray for whatever focus needs my prayers and I don’t get swept away in the rest of the day’s task.

*Later in the day, it actually brings that moment to my mind and makes me more likely to pray for the event in the future, even days beyond the initial prayers.

This works with kids, with friends, with fellow ministry volunteers. What I’ve found is that most people really appreciate being prayed over, right then and there. In fact, no one (that I already knew to be a believer) has ever told me no.

So I encourage you: stop telling people you’ll pray for them and start praying WITH them. I think you’ll find we are a more connected body of Christ and we’ll be more connected TO Christ.

Kids Club Homework: Make Sure Your Kids Know Jimmy and Gergu

Event, Family, Kids Club, Uncategorized, Volunteers No Responses »

May 152013

If your kids are coming or you are volunteering at Kids Club this year, you have some very important homework! So, maybe it’s not as important as reading the Parent and Volunteer Devotional to prepare your hearts for the week. But, this homework should be pretty high up on your Kids Club priority list, ok?

You and your kids must watch last year’s Jimmy and Gergu (they are our skit characters) video before coming. Want to know why? I’ll tell you a little secret. They are returning this year! But, in order to understand and appreciate the nuances of this year’s story, you need to understand the depth of their character, the breadth of their story, and the love of Kids Club in their hearts. Ok, that’s probably a bit dramatic but you get my point.

P.S. Our kids’ teams are now all filled up for this year’s Kids Club. But, we still need a lot of volunteers, so if you haven’t signed up as one yet you can learn more and sign up here.

Here is your homework–last year’s opening video…

And, if you’re an ambitious learner, take a moment to watch last year’s recap video and think about all the fun we’re going to have this year!

Kids Club 2013 Devotional (Day 1: Map)

Devotional, Family, Kids Club, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

May 142013

If you’ve been around The Crossing for a while, you probably know that one of our favorite weeks of the year is Kids Club, our camp-like spin on VBS. We would also like to give you a glimpse of this year’s theme along with a special resource to help equip you–both parents and volunteers–for follow up conversations to come. Each week, we will post the next portion of our parent/volunteer devotional to the blog.

You can click on the image below to make them appear larger or download the entire thing here.

Living on After Easter: The Ceramic

Devotional, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

Apr 042013

In the morning bustle, I grabbed two coffee mugs–one for me and one for him. I knew he had eight minutes to leave. Ten if we pushed it, he told me. I rushed the mugs over to the pot, trying to bless him with good brew to get him through an early morning. As I passed the sink on my way to the coffee, the porcelain crashed against the ceramic and in an instant, the mug was in shards all over the ground. He rushed out and quickly swept away the remains of the accident. Of the mess.

He got to work on time, if you’re wondering. And I hopped in the shower. I heard a clinking. As I toweled off, I realized what it was–she, the big pup, had a piece. I grabbed it away from her–a task considering how much she wanted to hold on to it. Who knows why.

I continued getting ready, picking out my attire for the day. I went on with my makeup. I heard the clinking again. This time I didn’t immediately recognize it. I made my way to the kitchen and saw her with another piece. As I lunged for it, she backed away. It had punctured her gums. The piece was shiny and red as fresh blood covered the metallic color. She really didn’t want me to have it. She was hurt but she thought keeping this thing, this remains of a mess, was hers to keep. That it would provide her…something? Fun? Enjoyment? Control? I could tell by the way she shuddered at my touch she was afraid to let me have it. She may have known the pain but she was too scared that my touch would only cause more pain.

I waited until she relaxed and grabbed the piece from her, getting a glimpse of the laceration on her front lip. She wouldn’t let me touch it. It was too fresh. After a few seconds, she realized the thing she wanted so badly to keep from me was the thing that had caused the pain in the first place.

Immediately after I took the ceramic, and the pain with it, all she could do was stand in shock. And now? Just moments later? She is playing fetch with abandon. Coming to me, realizing I took the bad stuff and gave her freedom to play with things that are hers for the taking. Not the painful shards of glass that will leave her hurting.

I hope today, as you think about your life and what role Jesus plays within it, if you are holding on to something painful, you will recognize it for the pain it holds in your life. Do you have such a tight grip on it, knowing that control may mean pain but being too afraid of the alternative to surrender it to the kind hand who will make you whole again?

” But God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

Sometimes Easter gives us the pause we need to think about this miracle. That He, the perfect one, died for our pain. For our sin. For the things that keep us separated from him. For the things that make us separate ourself from him, knowing we’re hurting but terrified to take our sorry condition to him. Afraid and alone. He did all of this for us and in one miraculous weekend, he died and rose to graft us in to his family. We sang about it. We shed tears. Life should be different.

But now, it’s the week after Easter. The week after Easter, it’s easy to pack away our eggs, bunnies, pastel crosses, and all the pain and subsequent thanksgiving. The services from last week? Powerful. But over.

We don’t have to live like Easter never happened. We shouldn’t. We don’t have to suffer, to be afraid, to wonder what will happen if we let the pain and the longing go. We can rest in his promise that he will take it and we are free to run with abandon. To chase after him and him alone, not only at Easter but every day, all day long.

Books that have made me think, laugh and pray

Book Review, Parents, Reading, Volunteers No Responses »

Apr 022013

Reading is a huge part of how I like to spend my free time. I love to get lost in a book. I’ve read several books in the last few weeks and thought I would share them with you.

Sparkly Green Earrings is a humorous true story written by Melanie Shankle. She shares her life from trying to get pregnant, actually being pregnant, having a baby and being a mom. I laughed out loud several times as I read this book. As a mother myself and close to her age, I personally related to so much of what she wrote about. This book, which was sprinkled with scripture, made me think about all the ways parenting shapes us and why I do some of the things I find myself doing as a mother.

What Alice Forgot is a fictional story about a woman who falls at the gym and loses her memory. She actually loses 10 years of her memory so she does not remember having her three children or that she is in the process of getting divorced. She still thinks and feels like she is 29 years old, happily married and pregnant with her first child. Although not a Christian book, what I found interesting was the truths this book revealed about how much time really does change us and how the people we meet and the decisions we make shape who we are and what we become. As I read, I kept reflecting on who I am now and what I used to be like 10 years ago – with my children but also in my marriage. We really do change over time. This book also caused me to pray. I prayed that God would keep me from hardening to the things that happen to me in life.

The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert is a true story about a woman who used to be a leading lesbian professor who becomes a Christian and over time her whole life changes. Keith wrote briefly about it here. In light of the recent ongoing debates on gay marriage, this book was an eye-opening picture into the life of someone who God has dramatically changed. I found myself amazed at the way God not only changed my life 27 years ago but at how he works in so many different ways to redeem someone and accomplish his will.

Scouting the Divine is filled with insight and stories that engage the mind and the soul. Margaret Feinberg shares of her search for God in wine, wool and wild honey. Each chapter tells of her time spent with someone who lives day by day as a shepherd, a vintner, a bee keeper and a farmer. Each person she meets shares their thoughts on bible passages and what they mean to them in light of what they do. I learned a lot that I didn’t know before and it gave several passages new meaning to me.

These books have all made me think, laugh and some have caused me to pray. Do you have any book recommendations?

Let me learn by Easter paradox…

Devotional, Easter, Family, Parents, Volunteers No Responses »

Mar 282013

I don’t think it’s an accident that the most beautiful things of this earth aren’t typically so in the predictable sense. The things that move us the most quite often involve a contrast of some type, an element of surprise.

Wildflowers creeping along a crowded highway.

The intricate wrinkles on my grandmother’s hands.

A quilt created entirely from scraps that sits on my bed.

Weeds left uncared for. Signs of aging and decay. Leftovers that otherwise had no use. Symptoms of the curse redeemed. Beauty rooted in what doesn’t seem to make sense.

Why is my heart captured by such things? Perhaps because this contrast is merely an echo of something greater. Perhaps because the face of beauty itself is described in this way.

…he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
-Isaiah 53:2-5-

With wounds we are healed. Grace at its very core is a paradox. Something so costly, so undeserved, is given freely. A gruesome, torturous method of execution becomes the central icon for redemption. A story I’ve heard since I was a little girl continues to contain an element of mystery. My faith, my hope, and my peace secured, only because the righteous died for the unrighteous. Darkness and light, bondage and freedom juxtaposed. And all this was for our salvation.

Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly,
Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision,
where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights;
hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory.
Let me learn by paradox
that the way down is the way up,
that to be low is to be high,
that the broken heart is the healed heart,
that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,
that the repenting soul is the victorious soul,
that to have nothing is to possess all,
that to bear the cross is to wear the crown,
that to give is to receive,
that the valley is the place of vision.
Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells,
and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine;
Let me find Thy light in my darkness,
Thy life in my death,
Thy joy in my sorrow,
Thy grace in my sin,
Thy riches in my poverty,
Thy glory in my valley.
-The Valley of Vision, A Puritain Prayer-

Doing Battle Through Prayer

Devotional, Parents, prayer, Volunteers No Responses »

Mar 072013

I love being in vocational ministry. That sounds really uptight. I love that my job each day is to go work for a church and spend my time figuring out how to bless volunteers and teach kids that the best friend they could ever, ever have is Jesus. But one thing I have noticed since I officially became a part of the ministry is that I feel more under attack. You may not believe in spiritual attack. I am not trying to convince you it’s real. I am telling you I have felt more mental attacks in my life since I dedicated it to facilitating relationships between Jesus and the little ones.

What does this look like? I am sure each person has seen spiritual attacks in different ways. For me, it has come in the form of mental lies. These are truths I have believed in for years, that I haven’t struggled with at all, that are now sneaking their way into my brain. I don’t know how they get there (actually yes, yes I do) but I’ve had tough days of struggling in real ways with the truths of God. I know it’s not cool and spiritual to say that. But I sometimes feel we need to hear the uncool to know that we are not alone in our trials (because honestly, aside from lies, evil’s other tactic is alienation and making people feel alone.).

A couple of weeks ago, I went to San Diego for a ministry conference. I came away with some great ideas for ministry and renewal in so many ways. Particularly, though, I had a true moment of renewal I want to share.

On the last evening of the conference, we were being led in worship and those lies I mentioned started back in my head. I was so, so sick of it that I did what I should have done in the first place. I stopped praising and in my head (and maybe out loud whispering) I said, “Jesus, I pray that only truth would live in me and you would clear my mind of anything that isn’t true and that isn’t from you. I believe in your truth and I know when I ask you to dwell in my mind, you will. Please clear out any lies.” I felt pretty instantly better. I was able to praise and I didn’t feel all this conflict in my mind.

The topic this particular night was on praying for the international children’s ministries. Larry Fowler gave a great message on prayer and I am feeling his passion. I am in it. Scribbling notes as fast as my bright pink, felt tip pen will write.

We get to the end and he says that a message on prayer wouldn’t be complete without praying. Great! I love prayer! So he asks all those in ministry outside the states to stand up so we can gather round and pray for them. I see one of my favorite speakers standing next to me. A bunch of international pastors are near me and Beth Guckenberger, a missionary I admire, is near me with her team from Mexico. I am thinking, “this is sweet! I get to end this day by praying for Beth and her team! Awesome! She’s on my prayer list and to think I can pray over her in person. So cool!”

Well, the guy leading prayers looks around, decides there aren’t enough people standing so he says, “I am going to add one more category of people so we can all pray over some more in our midst. If you have been in children’s ministry…”

In my head, he’s about to say something about people who have been in ministry a long time and I am getting pumped to pray for those in our midst who maybe are feeling burnout and my mind is racing. I’m excited. That’s not what he says.

“…for less than nine months. If you have been in ministry nine months or less, please stand so we can pray over you.” I start counting on my hands. Eight and a half. I look at my coworker. She prompts me to stand.

I don’t want to stand. I don’t want to be humbled in front of all these people and admit I need help. I want to go pray for Beth. Or someone who might really need it. Or anyone really. But that’s not what was supposed to happen. I stood and mumbled something about barely making the cutoff. Before I can get all the way out of my seat, I am completely surrounded by people. All sides. My coworker is to my right and lays her hands on me. I have hands all over me and the woman right in front of me introduces herself and asks if she can pray for me. Sure. That’s why we’re here, right? No backing out now.

She starts to pray for me. I can’t tell you all she asked. But what I do remember is she asked God to strengthen me. To provide me with young people to stand next to me and support me. To provide me with older, wiser people to mentor me and lead me. And to give me courage and strength to keep going. And I am crying just writing this. But to live it, I felt the tears falling onto the ugly conference room carpet at my feet. I felt so humbled, so vulnerable, and so filled.

It’s as if, at that moment, God was saying to me, “You asked me to comfort and fill you. You needed prayer. And I am your Father and give you all good things. So instead of just holding you close on my own, I am giving you dozens of people to come pray on your behalf.” I would say it was too much but really it was just enough. We concluded and I was swarmed with hugs and hand clasps as I tried to not look like a human waterfall. God had answered my prayers. He was just waiting for me to ask.

There were so many good things at that conference but few things compare to God answering your prayers in an almost audible way.

If you are struggling with something in your mind that you know is not Truth, would you please pray and command God to take it? I am praying for you right now. Evil only has the power we give it. We know who wins. Let’s let him win in our lives as well. We have lots of tools in this life but few as powerful and action-filled as prayer. We don’t think of prayer as action sometimes. But it is. Such a powerful action to surrender and ask our God, our Father, to act on our behalf.

You all should also know that the Crossing Kids team takes time to pray each week for those in our ministry and for each other. If you have anything in your life, your family, or your ministry you’d like us to pray for, please comment or email us. We are called to bear each others’ burdens. We want to do that for you.

Thanks for being the fellow young and old standing next to me. We need each other to fight this battle, no matter what our battle looks like. I am praying for your battle today. We are more than conquerers in Christ Jesus.

My personal prayer

Parents, prayer, Reflection, Volunteers No Responses »

Feb 192013

“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 This verse has been my daily prayer for the past six weeks. Let me explain why.

Our small group started a short study in January by reading a book called My One Word by Mike Ashcraft. The book explains the process of picking “one word” to focus on for the year instead of picking new year resolutions that rarely last. The idea is to ask God to help you select a character quality that you would like to see developed more in your life and then commit to focusing on what God wants to teach you through this “one word”.

After a few weeks of making my list and narrowing it down, I selected the word “patience”. It’s a long story on what led me to this word but let me tell you it did involve a few weeks of seeing impatience in my life and relationships. I did a word search in the bible to see where this word was used and then selected Colossians 3:12 as my verse to go along with my word. And then I started praying “God clothe me with patience today as I live, work and serve. Give me patience as a mother and a wife. This is what you want for your chosen people, so please give me patience in all that I do today.”

Not even a week later, God gave me a picture that I won’t quickly forget of what it looks like to NOT be patient. I was meeting with two women about ministry stuff at Kaldi’s. I decided to get hot tea instead of my normal iced tea because it was unusually cold outside. I took off the lid and let it cool a little, then promptly put the lid back on and took a big swig. And… I burned my mouth and tongue very badly. It was so burned that I couldn’t taste food for almost a week. It was awful.

About a day later as I was praying my verse, it hit me that I wouldn’t have burnt my tongue so badly had I been “patient” and waited for the tea to cool down. But an even stronger thought came through after that. When I am impatient with people or with situations, I burn others with my tongue. It leaves a bad taste for others and it lasts much longer than the moment. Just like my taste buds were affected by my impatience, so my relationships are affected by it. This image made a memorable impact on me.

So my personal prayer for 2013 is for God to clothe me with his patience throughout my day with all people and with all situations. It’s for sure not an easy prayer to lift up but one I’m confident that God will answer as my day is filled with the unexpected and filled with people that don’t always do things the way I would.

Ironically, the next two verses in Colossians 3 are about “bearing with one another” and “putting on love” which are related to “patience” and especially to how I should deal with people. I might already have my “one word” for the next two years.

Crossing Kids: Sunday, February 3, 2013

5th Grade, Elementary, Family, Little Ones, Parents, Preschool, Sunday Morning, Volunteers No Responses »

Feb 032013

Little Ones

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, loves all people.

Monthly Symbol: Heart

Memory Verse: “His loves endures forever” – Psalm 136:1

Bible Story Focus: Jesus loves Children

Lesson Overview: In this lesson, kids will hear of Jesus’ love for children through the story in Matthew 19. They will learn that Jesus loves all people including little children.

Preschool

Monthly Image: Heart

Big Idea: Jesus, our Forever King, loves all people.

Memory Verse: “His love endures forever.” -Psalm 136:1

Bible Story Focus: Jesus loves the World

John 4:1-42

I Wonder Questions

I wonder…What town did Jesus stop in to get some water?

* He stopped in Samaria.

I wonder…Who is the Living Water?

*Jesus is the living water.

I wonder… Who does Jesus love?

* Jesus loves all people.

Kindergarten-4th Grade

Title of Unit: Sin–A Matter of the Heart

Key Concept of Unit: Our Forever King wants what is best for us and died to free us from sin.

Memory Verse for Unit: “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11

Scripture: Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 11-15

Objectives for Unit:

Know that God values a heart that loves and trusts in Him.
Recognize that because we live in a fallen broken world we all sin and our sin has consequences.
Realize that God wants us to respond to our sin with a broken and repentant heart.
Understand that sin requires forgiveness and Christ’s death provides that for us.
Understand that Jesus is our ultimate example of how to live a life for God.

Workshop Descriptions

#1: A Heart After God’s (Music & Craft)
In this lesson, students will learn that King David was a man after God’s own heart. They will hear the story about how God chose David to become the new king of the Israelites not because he was big, strong, or important, but because David had a heart that loved God more than anything else (this is a review from Unit 1). Students will discuss what it means to be “after God’s own heart,” and that we too can have a heart after God’s by reading his word, loving Him, and trusting Him. To help children begin to “store God’s word in their hearts,” they will create a “Heart Pouch” filled with Bible verses telling who God is and what he loves.

#2: Selfish vs. Selfless Heart (3 Stations)
In this lesson, students will learn about sin through the story of David and Bathsheba from 2 Samuel 11. After hearing the story, students will rotate through 3 stations to learn: why we sin, what sin is, and the result of sin. Students will learn that the opposite of a selfish (sinful) heart is a selfless heart that loves and trusts in God and will leave with encouragement from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

#3: Hard vs. Broken Heart (Craft)
In this lesson, children will learn how God wants us to respond to sin. After hearing the story of David and Nathan from 2 Samuel 12, children will look at verses in the Bible to help them understand that even though God already knows about our sin He wants us to come to him with a broken and contrite heart. Although our hearts may be broken, His love for us is unbreakable. They will then create a beautiful heart from broken crayons to demonstrate that God can make our sin/broken hearts beautiful through a better relationship with Him.

#4: Sinful vs. Clean Heart (Science)
In this lesson, children will learn that Jesus died on the cross to pay the punishment for our sin. By doing this, he washes away (cleans) the stain of our sin. The lesson will begin with a science experiment demonstration. Children will then compare the experiment to our own sin being cleaned by Jesus’ blood shed for us. Finally, children will have a time of quiet reflection to acknowledge and confess their own sin to God by writing about them with disappearing ink.

#5: Stubborn vs. Transforming Heart (Drama)
In this lesson, students will learn that God will transform our hearts and help us know the things He wants us to do the more we follow the example of our Forever King–Jesus. When we read God’s word and look to Jesus, we learn how to respond in difficult situations. Children will read and perform “sticky situations” for their classmates and discuss how Jesus’ example can help us know how to live.

Ways to Follow Up:

Hide God’s Word in your heart by reviewing/memorizing verses from verses brought home in workshop #1 activity—“Heart Pouch.”
Hide God’s Word in your heart through music—Seeds Family Worship.

Music:
Hey Man from Seeds of Faith
Forgiven from TRU Worship
One Way from Hillsong United

5th Grade

Grapple Question: Are We Really That Different?

Kids Learn: Uncommon Commonalities

Dig Into the Bible: Genesis 1:26-27; 2:18-24; Galatians 3:26-28; 1 Timothy 2:8-15

As an adult, you can probably name a dozen differences between men and women—physi- cal characteristics, personality tendencies, ways of handling problems. But your preteen may just be realizing all the differences between boys and girls.

Think about what traits make your daughter special as a female, or what sets your son apart as a male. Maybe she is compassionate and gentle, or he is strong in handling tough situ- ations. Tell your preteen that you’ve noticed and admire that trait. Remember that both genders are made in God’s image and are equally awesome!

A Praying Life…

Book Review, Devotional, Elementary, Family, Parents, prayer, Volunteers No Responses »

Jan 312013

Next month, elementary students will begin a new unit on prayer for five weeks. As I spent time preparing and writing for this, I was reminded of just how much I love and appreciate Paul Miller’s words in A Praying Life. Below are just a few examples that I found especially encouraging and challenging. Perhaps you will as well.

“When Jesus describes the intimacy he wants with us, he talks about joining us for dinner. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). A praying life feels like our family mealtimes because prayer is all about relationship.”

“If we love people and have the power to help, then we are going to be busy. Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life; it offers us a less busy heart. In the midst of outer busyness we can develop an inner quiet. Because we are less hectic on the inside, we have a greater capacity to love…and thus to be busy, which in turn drives us even more into a life of prayer.”

“A needy heart is a praying heart. Dependency is the heartbeat of prayer.”

“Jesus wants us to be without pretense when we come to him in prayer, instead we often try to be something we aren’t…The difficulty of coming just as we are is that we are messy. And prayer makes it worse. When we slow down to pray, we are immediately confronted with how unspiritual we are, with how difficult it is to concentrate on God. We don’t know how bad we are until we try to be good. Nothing exposes our selfishness and spiritual powerlessness like prayer. In contrast, little children never get frozen by their selfishness…this isn’t just a random observation about how parents respond to little children. This is the gospel, the welcoming heart of God. God also cheers when we come to him with our wobbling, unsteady prayers. Jesus does not say, “Come to me, all you who have learned to concentrate in prayer, whose minds no longer wander, and I will give you rest.” No, Jesus opens his arms to his needy children and says, “Come to me all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest (Matt. 11:28). The criteria for coming to Jesus is weariness. Come overwhelmed with life. Come with your wandering mind. Come messy.”

“What does an unused prayer link look like? Anxiety. Instead of connecting with God, our spirits fly around like severed power lines, destroying everything they touh. Anxiety wants to be God but lacks God’s wisdom, power, or knowledge. A godlike stance without godlike character and ability is pure tension. Because anxiety is self on its own, it tries to get control…Instead of hunting for the perfect spiritual state to lift you above the chaos, pray in the chaos. As your heart or your circumstances generate probles, keep generating prayer. You will find that the chaos lessens…When you stop trying to control your life and instead allow your anxieties and problems to bring you to God in prayer, you shift from worry to watching. You watch God weave his patterns in the story of your life. Instead of trying to be out front, designing your life, you realize you are inside God’s drama. As you wait, you begin to see him work, and your life begins to sparkle with wonder. You are learning to trust again.”

“What do I lose when I have a praying life? Control. Independence. What do I gain? Friendship with God. A quiet heart. The living work of God in the hearts of those I love. The ability to roll back the tide of evil. Essentially, I lose my kingdom and get his. I move from being an independent player to a dependent lover. I move from being an orphan to a child of God.”

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