“Prayer means that, in some unique way, we believe we’re invited into a relationship with someone who hears us when we speak in silence.” - Anne Lamott, One of my favorite books about prayer is “Help Thanks Wow: Three Essential Prayers” by Anne Lamott. In it she talks about both the simplicity of prayer, the power that it holds and about all the forms that prayer takes such as prayers of hurt, anger, sadness, joy, and praise. Lamott say that her prayers are variations of “help, thanks, and wow.”
We’ve heard a lot of people lately sharing “thoughts and prayers” mainly because they don’t know what else to say. Thoughts are nice, but prayer has power. Prayer is not passive, it is an action. It is crying out for help that feels beyond what we can do. The purpose of prayer is to seek God first. Prayer isn’t about what God can do for us. It is about having such a connection with God that God can work with us and through us.
“We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.” - Oswald Chambers Jesus told the following parable to a group of people who were very religious and judgmental, but needed a little more grace and humility. “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’
“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:9-14 I feel this parable in my bones. Depending on the day of the week or even the time of day I can identify with both of the characters in this parable. There are times when I think that MY way is better than the ways of others, that MY faith is stronger than others, and that MY beliefs are the only beliefs that align with God’s ways. Then I get a God sized dope slap and I am reminded that I don’t have everything figured out.
“God have mercy on me, a sinner.”
I appreciate the simple words of the tax collector. He names who and what he is, he calls out to his creator, and he asks for help. There are days when I feel that “help” is my only prayer. Help our world, help our leaders, help my family, help my friends, help your church, help me.
Help
Jesus doesn’t say any more about the tax collector, but I bet if he were to continue the story the next word would be “thanks.” Thank you for your mercy. Thank you for your grace. Thank you for your love.
Thanks
Sometimes I think the “wow” prayers come easily. I say wow when I see deer in my yard or when we are at the ocean, experiencing beautiful sunsets and powerful choir pieces, holding the tiny feet of a baby or seeing an amazing double rainbow after a storm.
“Prayer is taking a chance that against all odds and past history, we are loved and chosen, and do not have to get it together before we show up.” - Anne Lamott Through prayer we are heard. We are loved. We can be a mess, and God will love us anyway.
Wow
By: Becky Long
Don and Becky Long, Senior Pastor at Wesley United Methodist Church, 1212 Calhoun St., Macomb, IL 61455
