PRAYER OF CONSECRATION
Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
Jesus, I belong to you.
I lift up my heart to you.
I set my mind on you.
I fix my eyes on you.
I offer my body to you as a living sacrifice.
Jesus, we belong to you.
Praying in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, amen.
Matthew 20:29–34
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
CONSIDER THIS
Today we continue with our question, “What is prayer?”
Remember now our working definition: Prayer is the lifelong process of becoming a peculiar kind of person who learns to exercise a particular kind of power for the good of the world and the glory of God.
Yesterday I told you a story. Today, permit me to offer a poem of sorts—in the spirit of the tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers.
So much of what passes for prayer
is really just inner dialogue, or performative monologue,
or consternated cogitation; even emotional constipation;
and really just a more meditative way of thinking about things—
a kind of internal churning in spiritual circles.
But real prayer is of another order of magnitude.
It’s like waiting in a long line for your turn
to speak to the King of the realm.
At the back of the line you had so much to say,
but as the line progressed it mostly fell away.
All that internal wrangling you used to think was prayer
evaporates like mist in the face of a furnace
when your turn comes to meet the King.
Now you finally pray.
As Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”
Jesus stopped and called them. “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked.
“Lord,” they answered, “we want our sight.”
Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
Lots of onlookers that day; only two could see him.
They were the ones praying.
THE PRAYER OF HUMBLE APPROACH
Lord Jesus, teach us to pray.
Let’s locate ourselves with those two blind men sitting by the side of the road. We heard Jesus of Nazareth was coming this way. We are waiting for him. It is hot. We are weary. And we can see nothing. So close your eyes.
Now begin to whisper his name. “Jesus . . . Jesus . . . Jesus . . .”
As you continue saying his name, increase the volume level until you are uncomfortable with the volume.
Go back to whispering now and add these words: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on me.”
Continue with these words now, speaking them several times—increasing the volume level until you are louder than you think appropriate.
When you think you are finally praying these words to Jesus, come to silence. He stands before you now, and he asks:
What do you want me to do for you?
Go ahead and tell him now, out loud: “I want . . . ”
Return to this way of prayer throughout the day as prompted.
THE QUESTION
Were you able to connect with the poem? How about the exercise of prayer? What did you experience? How did Jesus encounter you? How did you experience Jesus?
THE HYMN
Today we will sing the hymn, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior.” It is hymn 527 in our Seedbed hymnal, Our Great Redeemer’s Praise.
For the Awakening,
J. D. Walt
Sower-in-Chief
seedbed.com
P. S. My Book on Prayer
About six years ago I wrote a series on prayer on the Wake-Up Call. It remains one of my favorite series ever. We published it into a book: Right Here Right Now Jesus: Moving from a Prayer Life to a Life of Prayer. We have a limited supply of them in the Seed House. I thought you might like to get a copy. If so, order one here. And don’t forget your Wake-Up Call community discount. Use the code WUNOW.
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3 Responses
Thanks, JD!
Your poem “of sorts” moves us from the outer court of seeing Jesus from a distance to the inner court of His presence. We move from learning to being.
I’m learning to be.
The outer court prayers have kept the evil one’s temptations at bay, prayed before, during, and after. Like the blind men, I can spot personal temptations around the corner.
But, He who is in me is greater than he who lurks around the corner.
There were times I experienced Jesus’ presence instead of viewing Him from a distance.
When the ER doctor told my wife and me that she had a stroke, fear attacked me in full force. I closed off the world, claimed my mind, and prayed Philippians 4:6-8 to the best of my rememorization, and Jesus’s presence dissolved this fear like unclogging a drain. Another time was when I was in Africa on a mission trip. That is a story for another time.
At other times, I feel the line isn’t moving.
Maybe, those are the times I’m standing still.
Hebrews 10:19-23
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
Staying 💪’n Christ
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, stay strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
The truth is, that because of our fallen nature, each of us was born into this world spiritually blind. We remain that way until we can have an encounter with Jesus. In my experience, the daily troubles and concerns of this life can act as cataracts and cloud our vision. Time spent in prayer, meditation over God’s Word, and fellowship with my family within the household of faith bring healing to my spiritual eyes. Therefore, for me, renewal of my spiritual incite is a communal thing.
Continually cultivate the humble approach to God so you can hear and prayerfully obey His prompting throughout the day. Here’s the poem I woke up with and cultivated in my heart and mind this morning.
Cultivate space
For God’s Spirit
To freely flow
In your heart
And through your mind
And to replace
Self-focus
With Christ’s presence.
Then you will find
A different kind
Of life,
Much greater than
Human knowing,
Growing
Within you.
Heart-felt prayer requires inner cultivation. Whatever you cultivate and grow in your mind and heart will determine your quality of life. Cultivating anger, rebellion, and confusion will grow guilt and pain within you, but cultivating love, joy, and peace will produce a happy life.
How do you cultivate your heart and mind to produce a beautiful life? You tend and guard them — you seed and weed. You plant and nurture pure and productive feelings and thoughts within you. Then you guard those inner tender plants so that they can grow and flourish, keeping them protected from the weeds of polluted and destructive thoughts, feelings, and desires.
Your mind and heart — your choice! You can work to turn your heart and mind into good ground for growing the fulfilling, life-giving fruit of God’s Spirit. Or you can let your heart and mind grow the weeds, seeds, and deeds of darkness and self-focus. What kind of inner gardener are you?