“Our daily life communicates where our hope and trust is placed; we are actually ‘praying’ with our words and deeds every day.”- Jared C. Wilson
As Jared Wilson concludes Chapter 5 of The Imperfect Disciple, he describes prayer as “spilling your guts.” Therefore, prayer doesn’t have to be pretty, tidy, particularly eloquent, or even particularly intelligent. God speaks to us in the Bible and we speak to Him in prayer. Also, spilling our guts in prayer enables us to process God’s Word. In response, we interact with our friend Jesus through prayer.
Yet, God never checks His watch when you’re talking to Him – although, Jared suggests, you might! In fact, Pastor Wilson stresses, God’s more eager to listen to you than you are to speak. And God’s not distant, but, as John Ortberg puts it, closer than you think. Jared explains:
“We are constantly moving away, and he’s constantly following. He is a much better chaser of us than we are of him. And he’s a much better listener. He picks up everything.”
Hence, you find the rhythm of God’s kingdom in a consumer culture as you seek humility. That humility comes as you reject independence, admit dependence, and confidently embrace God’s acceptance of you through Jesus Christ.
In addition, since we acknowledge our helplessness (spilling our guts) through prayer, the more we pray the more we:
- abide in God’s strength and love
- surrender thoughts of our own glory
- unbusy ourselves with the enterprise of our own glory
- lay down our bricks and trowels and let God knock down our Babel Towers
- get off the treadmill of routine religion and find the rhythms of the kingdom
Today’s question: In your daily life, how do you communicate where you place your hope and trust? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Bringers of the gospel”
