Meditations On Prayer

PHIL NOORDMANS, WESTERN REGIONAL PASTOR

Prayer is a Mystery: Embrace It and Pray On …
In 1952, a doctoral student at Princeton asked, “What is there left in the world for original dissertation research?” Visiting lecturer Albert Einstein replied, “Find out about prayer. Somebody must find out about prayer.”[1]

Christian psychologist Larry Crabb reports that when he was 10 years old, his Sunday School teacher taught them the “whatever” model of prayer.

“Whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith,” Matthew 21:22, ESV. Believe; ask for whatever you want; and it’s yours. Since Jesus never lies, Larry decided to give it a try. Later that day, he ran outside, stood on the driveway, closed his eyes real tight, and prayed, “God, I want to fly like Superman. And I believe that you can help me do it. So I’ll jump, and you take it from there.”

He jumped four times – and each time landed half a second later, and half a foot farther, down the driveway. Dr. Crabb lamented, “I had believed and I had asked, just like Jesus said. But I didn’t receive. Thus began my 50-year journey of confusion about prayer.”[2]

Prayer involves deep mysteries. How can saying a few words to a Person we cannot see or touch make any difference? Yet it does. We treasure promises such as, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you,” John 15:7, ESV. Prayer is a mystery. Nevertheless, hold tightly to Jesus’ promises and pray on.

We invite you to join us for Morning Prayer at the Annual Gathering in St. Cloud, MN. Tuesday,  Wednesday, Thursday,  July 11, 12, 13, 2023, 7-7:45a

*Note: This is the first meditation in this series, watch the Foresee Update for more!