Be Kind—Pray: Psalm 5: 1-3, 11-12 and James 5: 13-18
Growing up, I remember singing little songs during Children’s Church. Sometimes they were fun and a bit silly, like “Father Abraham,” where you end up swinging your arms and legs wildly. Sometimes the songs we sang were simple hymns. But one often stuck out—a cross between the solemn and charismatic. It was popularized by Johnny Cash… “Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me. Way, beyond the blue.” As we continue in our series on being kind and practical ways to live in kindness, we look today at prayer. Prayer is that time where we both listen and call out to God, “Do Lord, remember me.”
But even as we ask for God to look upon us and remember us, we must also understand what it means to pray and what is required of us in the process. We can pray all day, “Do Lord, remember me,” but if our hearts are not ready for our prayers or God’s response, we will struggle with being able to pray. What it takes from us is the faith to believe, the courage to confess, and the wisdom to know. Even as we call out to God “way beyond the blue” what do we do here on earth when we pray?
First, we must have the faith to believe that God hears us. The Psalm starts out with this call, “O Lord, hear me as I pray, pay attention to my groaning [;] listen to my cry for help.” Prayers do us no good if we lack faith. If we cannot imagine our prayers making it beyond the roof, then why pray at all? It takes this faith to know and believe that God hears us when we cry out to Almighty God. James strongly advocates for prayer in all situations and all things: if you are suffering hardship—pray! If you are happy, sing praises! If you’re sick, call the elders to come pray over you and anoint you! Prayer is much more involved than just a quick blessing over lunch. Look to Jesus in the garden before the cross, or to Moses on Mt. Sinai. Prayer is a time when we enter, spiritually, right in front of God and pour out our hearts.
I remember talking with a church member who was very confused at the prayer behaviors of a good friend of hers. She told me that her friend would come and pray with her when she was sick, and that was it. There would be no follow up, no asking if more prayer was needed, nor checking back in to see how she was. After some thinking and pondering on it, she said to me, “You know, at first I thought it was because she didn’t care, but then I learned she had the kind of faith to believe God heard her, so it was unnecessary to check back up on God.” Have the faith to believe God hears you…even way beyond the blue.
Second, we must have the courage to confess what is in the way of our time with God. James has a somewhat uncomfortable note on confession. In verse 15 he writes, “And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven.” How reassuring to hear, but the discomfort starts in the next verse: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” It’s almost as if we were to sing, “Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me…BUT WAIT not that part, whoa, whoa God, not that part of my life…remember something else!”
We have lost the ability to confess in prayer because we’ve tied confession to shame instead of forgiveness. Confession should free us, bring peace and wholeness, lead us on the pathways to forgiveness. But in our times and days, confessing anything is shameful, ugly, and haunts us for life especially when it’s poured through the pipes of gossip and the worldwide audience of social media. Perhaps that is because we’ve come to care more what people around us think than we care what God thinks? God already knows what you’ve done wrong. God’s only waiting for you to bring it up and deal with it to find peace and move on. Confession, for our time, unfortunately, is seen as weak, not an act of courage.
But James calls on us to confess both to God for forgiveness and to one another for healing and wholeness. I wonder how different the hatefulness of our world would look if we were loving and gentle with confessions, offered forgiveness, and practiced healing and Christ-like grace to one another? Prayer is meant to wash away guilt and shame. Confession and forgiveness are meant to restore relationships not become fodder for future arguments. Confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, pray for the guidance to do better—for this is how prayer strengthens you in your walk.
Last, we must have the wisdom to know and accept God’s answer. The Psalm and James both speak to this. Psalm 5:11 says, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice…for you bless the godly, O Lord, you surround them with your shield of love.” James adds in verse 17 that Elijah, though human, prayed for over three years that rain would fall, and none did. Then at some point, he prayed again, and rain fell. What do we make of this? God hears our prayers—this much we know. But God doesn’t always answer prayer on our timeline. Elijah prayed for years for rain during a drought. But it wasn’t time.
This was part of the ongoing saga between the wicked King Ahab and Elijah, the prophet calling the people back to God. A drought was sent to both push the people back to faith and punish them for turning their backs on God. Elijah tried to pray them through it, but it wasn’t the right time. When the time was right, God sent rain to help the struggling people. Sometimes we must wait, and that’s hard. Sometimes God answers immediately, so we rejoice. Sometimes, God says no, and we must find the peace to live that response.
But God always answers us when we pray. This week I’ve been doing quite a bit of praying. I have time to do that again now that I get a couple of months break from seminary. I prayed hard about my worries with the rising COVD numbers again. Out of nowhere a random Macon phone number called me this morning. The lady left a message said she was calling with a group of local pastors to encourage them with the scripture, “Do not be afraid for I am with you. Do not be anxious for I am your God. I will fortify you; yes I will help you.” She rounded out with, “We can always petition God for comfort, peace of mind, and things of that nature.” It takes the wisdom to know that God hears us and will respond.
People often ask, “How do I pray?” It’s actually very easy. You simply come before God with an open heart, listening ears, and willing spirit. When you pray, have the faith to believe that God hears you in all that you ask. Have the courage to confess and ask for forgiveness, for God’s grace is abundant. And lastly, have the wisdom to know that God will answer you. And as you ask, “Do Lord, O do Lord, O do remember me…” be reminded: God always does.
Worship Video: https://www.facebook.com/fccmacon/videos/2990709734476260