I have observed
our grandchildren at the dinner table for many years. We have grandchildren from
four to twenty years old. Over time I’ve watched a pattern of wanting to pray and
being too shy to say a prayer through their lives:
there is a time of eagerness
to pray due to the newness of understanding or sometimes an older one will pray
to thank our Lord for the provision of food.
Adults seem to
be similar, they often hold back from or forget about prayer. Doing so is how the
opportunity to deepen our relationship with God slips away. More often, than not, we pray out of necessity,
when things go wrong – health, finances, personal issues, disaster, etc. – we
remember to pray. We live in a faith of response to need, not in a relationship
where needs are met. We miss out on a lot of goodness of God’s presence and
helping us in life before our issues occur. Prayer is much more enriching when
not exercised as an afterthought.
 |
| It is good to peek, observe prayer. |
A child will
have a simple prayer at meal time, “God is great, God is good, we thank you for
the food, amen” and we as adults hesitate to be that simple, that humble. Do we
prefer to miss out? We hesitate to pray and to invite others to our table and
pray with us. I’m reminded of Jesus’ invitation
for all who have a chair at the table for him, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and
opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me” (Rev. 3:20).
I wonder, would you, me, anyone answer the door and enjoy a meal together with
Jesus? Yes, of course. Now, who is going
to say the meal's thanksgiving blessing? The guest or host? Be a gracious host and
thankfully pray. When you pray you may be surprised at simple little things
that change in your life … those little things, my friend, are miracles.
I need to pray,
Owen
“Devotion to
God and devotion to prayer are one and the same thing.” ~ E. M. Bounds
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