I won't lie (In fact, I'm sitting), I'm new at this. I'm new at learning to hear the still, small voice of my Shepherd. And you know, it's intimidating - I have all these people around me that can wield prayer like a Howitzer; and when they pray, the ground shakes and the mountains move. I actually tell my wife, Liz, that I'm lucky to have a wife like her, and to have her on my side; because she prays BIG prayers. She doesn't do the normal "...and Lord, keep us safe today..." - no, when she prays she prays like "Lord, part these clouds and let the Sun shine through today, and make the rain stop - and bless us financially in an unexpected way today". And then twenty minutes later, the downpour is gone, the Sun is out, it's hot in January and I pick up the Community Chest card that says my dividends have paid off, collect $200!!
And when I pray, I say "Lord, heal this sick person" or Lord, "let your Holy Spirit overtake this person" or "Lord, let fire come out of my hands". Let me just say...out of those prayers, I think I've seen one or two people healed (praise God), I've never had the Holy Spirit overtake anyone and fire has never come down from the heavens. And the weird thing is - I believe with all my heart and mind that it can happen and I believe that God doesn't want His children to be in suffering. So, I believe that He does want to heal the sick and furthermore - He wants to do it through me! So...what's wrong?
Well, I said I'm new at this...but that's a crappy excuse. The truth is, I'm not good at this. For years and years and years, I have fought all sorts of mental battles. My mind has become pretty tough and I have a pretty impeccable logic...and that's what kills it. My human nature fights my spirit (as is expected). My mind is strong and I've always relied on it, listening to it. But, since my conversion, I've had this new sense that is dull, because I've never sharpened it.
This sense is my spiritual sense. I don't think it's quite like seeing, our touch, or smell or hearing or taste - yet I think it's all of those things...on a new level. Fighter pilots train their eyes, musicians train their ears, fighters train their precognition. What then about us? What about the Christians? We do have (an) extra sense(s). But, if we're not seeing results in our prayer life - something's off. Guess what? It's ME!
"We forget that at the moment we gave our hearts to the Lord, our lives would no longer be led by what we can see, hear, feel, or figure out on our own" (Barnett). We do have a new dimension to us upon receiving the Lord in our hearts! But like any other skill or trait, we have to develop it and train it!
I got a concept a few months back to write a book about mental and spiritual martial arts called Jesus Kung Fu. But, my first stab at it made for a really short book...about 5 pages! Now, those pages are loaded, but, I just know that there is more to write. This is definitely a chapter to put in the book! Like a martial artist, we require training. There are masters (disciplers, pastors, prayer warriors), and there is a grandmaster, Jesus, who has shown us the way.
"Father, if it can be let this cup pass from me. But, not what I want; let Your will be done."
- Matt. 26:39
"Our Father who is in heaven,
Holy is your name!
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done;
On Earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us of our sins;
As we forgive those who have wronged us.
Lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the Kingdom, the Glory, Honor;
For ever and ever.
Amen."
- Matt. 6:9-13
"For we walk by faith, and not by sight"
- Cor. 5:7
