“All other attempts to find our identity outside of Christ become weights to the soul, a yoke of our own making that is too heavy to bear. . . . It becomes even easier when we succeed at these things. . . . This is why we cannot pray the truth merely once, but must enter into a lifetime of prayer that recollects our hearts in truth to God.”- Kyle Strobel and John Coe
Kyle Strobel and John Coe continue Chapter 7 of Where Prayer Becomes Real as they discuss two major movements to the prayer of recollection that follow the passage in Philippians 3.
1. A prayer of detachment. The goal in this prayer involves naming anything and everything we seek to use for gain outside of Christ. Certainly, these things aren’t necessarily bad in themselves. Unless we use any of them to (a) secure ourselves before God or (b) ground our deepest identity. Then they turn into works of the flesh.
However, Kyle and John counsel, merely saying we detach from something doesn’t magically put it off. Rather, we name the objective truth of our life in Christ and subject ourselves to that truth. Furthermore, the authors advise:
“We must be watchful of our hearts in this time, because they will tell us what things are difficult to admit or claim. . . . We watch to see what we use to try to establish a frim foundation outside of Christ.”
In addition, the authors note, when you pray this prayer:
- work your way through your various roles in life
- name traits you may use to ground your life and define yourself
2. A prayer of attachment. In this prayer name the truth of who you are in Christ. As you reorient yourself to this truth, you’ve honestly open to the question, “Is this how I really feel?”
Thus, in the presence of God you come out of hiding, proclaim the truth to God, and seek His mercy. So, rest in full forgiveness and tell Jesus everything.
Todays question: What soul weights, a yoke of your own making, do you find too heavy to bear? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Objective truth, subjective experience”
