While in college, I was
assigned observation hours in a small school surrounded by what seemed to be
miles and miles of corn fields. It was there, in the only fifth grade
class, I saw the most pitiful child ever. A quiet, doe-eyed, curly haired boy,
who just so happened to be the son of the teacher I was observing. To make
matters worse, his mother taught another grade down the hall. School never
stopped for this kid.
I wonder how parent teacher conferences were approached.
The father: "I'm glad you could make it today."
The mother: "Really?! Frank, I have papers to
grade. Can't we talk about this over dinner?"
While this scenario
sounds funny, it would actually be a sad case if his parents only discussed
their son's progress and challenges during appointed times set by the school.
Regrettably, this sad case is often reflected in the prayer lives of
"church goers" who only conference with God during appointed times
set by their religion or unfortunate circumstances.
God the Father, wants to
conference with us every day during our times of prayer and Now, let's reflect on parent teacher conferences that you have been a part of and compare it to how we approach God in prayer.
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| Whatchu talkin 'bout God? |
Do we come to God like
the parents who act blind-sided by everything you're telling
them even though you've sent message after message and grade after grade? Sometimes we feign confusion about our
current situation during times of prayer although we know we're not listening
to the messages that God has been revealing to us.
Or
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| Did I do that? |
Do we
enter into our times of prayer like those parents who wonder why their
child, whose lunch box they fill with sodas, candy, cookies and other sugary
delights, can't sit still? Maybe we enter into our times of prayer like a
parent who wonders why their child, for whom study skills and homework
completion aren't required and enforced at home, are failing.
Sometimes we don't seek the deep things of God because we don't want Him to
expose the things in us that need to be changed. Deep down, we know
that we are a major source of the problem that we're praying about. It's just
easier not to make any changes because we feel it's too difficult to activate
our authority and self-discipline.
or
Do we come into prayer like the
parent who you don't actually meet until field day...or next year?
Our prayer life can be reflective of that when we have the
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| Hakuna Matata... I don't need to pray. |
a) "life is good so I don't
really need to talk to God that much because He's obviously pleased with
me", or
b) the "I know I'm wrong, but
God knows my heart so I really don't have to change" attitude.
We have to make sure we don't
rationalize the neglected parts of our prayer lives.
Remember, prayer is
simply communicating with God and should be something that is consistent and a tool of change. In our everyday conferences
with God, He wants us to come to Him to talk...and listen. He wants to talk about what
we are supposed to be raising together with Him; our call to teach, our
finances, our health, our spiritual walk, and our family. God doesn't keep office hours. He never sleeps nor slumbers.
So feel free to approach Him at any time to chat and listen.
You don't have to go far...He lives within you. Have a great work week!
The Lord is with you and
you are loved,
Toni
P.S.
When you read the bible
this week, take note of some of those who talked and listened to God;
King David, Gideon, Jeremiah and Peter). See how their
effectual, fervent prayers changed the lives of everyone around
them.
Here's a great song to welcome in your work week!!!
