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A man of faith lived in a village torn through by a great flood. His house was washed away. He clung to a tree branch, while the torrent rushed by, and he prayed to God for rescue. He was certain God would answer. A boat came by. The person in the boat asked the man to get in. He refused, saying, "I have prayed, and God will come to my rescue." Two other boats came by, and each time the man responded that God would come to his rescue. Soon, he drowned in the floodwaters. He appeared in heaven, demanding to know why God did not answer him. God replied, "You fool! Three times I brought you a rescue boat, but you refused to be saved!"
Scripture gives a wise saying regarding prayer. Jesus says,
So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. The one who searches will find, and for the person who knocks, the door will be opened.
If your child asks you, his father, for a fish, would you give him a snake instead? Or if your child asks you for an egg, would you give him a scorpion? Even though you're evil, you know how to give good gifts to your children. So, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?
(St. Luke 11.9-13, God's Word)
Jesus is presenting the innate wisdom of how Spirit, or Life, works. Spirit has an inner, natural logic. Spirit operates according to consistent principles. If we follow the principles, like the teaching of karma from the East and sowing and reaping in Christianity, we receive natural consequences of positive, helpful response.
When we pray and act in agreement with Spirit, in spirit and action, we participate in a like reciprocal response from Spirit. When we act in disagreement with the intent and means of Spirit, we get out of alignment with Spirit and reap a consequence resultant of that process. I am simplifying matters here; of course, this idea of karma, or reciprocal response, is more complicated than linear logic allows. But, bear with me.
Jesus says that prayer is efficacious in that prayer itself is energy that evokes response. The energy of asking and receiving is the same energy. We can speak of this response in personal, theistic terms. We can speak of this response in impersonal, nontheistic terms. Either way, prayer is energy action that joins with reciprocity of return. The intent within prayer is formative in shaping the response, for the imagined form manifests as form. Prayer is creative. This is counter the view that God is over against us and dolling out gifts to those who requests or are good enough to earn them.
We "ask" and "search" and "knock." We "receive" and "find" and have a "door … opened." This is not complicated, nor is it specifically religious, nor is it not religious. Jesus is saying that this is how the Spirit-in-universe operates.
Jesus appeals to our responsive nature, which reflects the responsive nature of Spirit. Jesus, essentially, says, "If you can logically reciprocate to those you love, then, how much more will Spirit, Who is Love Itself, logically reciprocate to you?"
So, what do we do in prayer? We do our part. We pray in varied ways. We wait. We act, when needing to act, for often an impulse or intuition to act is part of the prayer. Often we will act through interpreting the signs, for frequently, possibly most often, clear answers do not appear.
Now, we return to the story above. Prayer must be wedded with action; action is the continuance of the prayer, indeed, the action is prayer. To receive an answer is to join in bringing that answer to fruition. This responsiveness we take outside the specific time of formal devotion or prayer. Waiting, while often essential, can be an avoidance of action. One is not wise to wait, when the answer is staring one in the face. If God is sending you a "boat"—that is reciprocation—, then, receive it. If you do not receive it, you cut off the reciprocation. If you receive the answer, you continue the reciprocation.
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The Spirit is free. However, the Spirit cannot contradict the Spirit. And, the nature of Spirit is to join and respond to selfless prayer, prayer that seeks for love, joy, and peace in the world and for one to help birth that into the world. Therefore, reciprocation is blocked from Spirit if what we pray about does not agree with the Mind of the Spirit. The blessing of reciprocation or the lack of reciprocation from the Spirit is exemplified in the following scriptures:
And we will receive whatever we request because we obey him and do the things that please him.
(I John 3.22, NLT)
And we can be confident that he will listen to us whenever we ask him for anything in line with his will.
(I John 5.14, NLT)
You want something you do not have, so you kill. You want something but cannot get it, so you fight for it. You do not get things because you do not ask for them. Or if you do ask, you do not receive because your reasons for asking are wrong. You want these things only to please yourselves.
(James 4.2-3).
Therefore, listen to the wise words of the early contemplative Evagrius Ponticus (345-399).
It is a mistake to ask God to give you what you want. Your desires are probably not in complete harmony with God’s will. Pray instead that God will lead you to want the right things. Ask for what is good and for what is best for your soul. There is no way you could want these things for yourself more than God desires you to have them.
In your prayers, desire justice, virtue, and spiritual knowledge. The other things will be given you as well.
—Chapters on Prayer
Remember the words of our Lord, Christ Jesus, praying in the Garden before the crucifixion. The St. Mark scripture reads:
32They came to a place called Gethsemane. Jesus said to His followers, "You sit here while I pray." 33He took Peter and James and John with Him. He began to have much sorrow and a heavy heart. 34He said to them, "My soul is very sad. My soul is so full of sorrow I am ready to die. You stay here and watch." 35He went a little farther and got down with His face on the ground. He prayed that this time of suffering might pass from Him if it could. 36He said, "Father, You can do all things. Take away what must happen to Me. Even so, not what I want, but what You want."
37Then Jesus came to the followers and found them sleeping. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Were you not able to watch one hour? 38Watch and pray so that you will not be tempted. Man's spirit wants to do this, but the body does not have the power to do it."
39Again Jesus went away and prayed saying the same words. 40He came back and found them sleeping again. Their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him. 41He came the third time and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! Listen, the time has come when the Son of Man will be handed over to sinners. 42Get up and let us go. See! The man who will hand Me over to the head religious leader is near." (NLV, emphasis added)
Reflections
What encouraged you in the writing today? Explain.
Did you disagree with something in the writing today? If so, explain.
How do you discern answer to prayer in your life?
Spiritual Exercise
Practice praying for virtues for one week.
Make sure you have a sacred space in your home for time alone in prayer and spiritual reading.
Make sure you are in a covenant group. For more information on covenant groups, write me at the address below.
Consider, if you are not already, sponsoring a child through Compassion International. You can find out more about Compassion International by going to www.compassion.net to read about sponsoring, in the name of Jesus, children living in poverty. Thanks! Brian K. Wilcox
Brian’s book An Ache For Union can be purchased at major book dealers.
To contact Brian, write briankwilcox@comcast.net .
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