Just before going on our bi-annual trips, I was involved in a low-speed “encounter” with a car. The young man hit me sideways at my problematic knee. I landed on his hood but he decided that because I was not moving out of his way, it was my fault and he could just drive away. I am not kidding.
That was just a week before my Yokohama trip. At first, I FELT okay as I didn’t feel any extra pain. Good thing I reported it both to the police and my insurance.
Just a few days after that accident, my back started to tell me, “no, you’re not free and clear.”
On the fight I suddenly feel sharp pain at one particular joint, and it was not a “gentle” one but a sharp one. So, the day after I arrived I booked an appointment with a chiropractor.
It just happened to be one that is close to my hotel, AND can speak perfect English. Now, here is the point of my rant: our prayer to God is like (not the same as, not like) going to see a chiropractor.
When you go to see one, you don’t HAVE to tell the doctor anything about your problems. They are very capable of figuring that out. HOWEVER, if you be honest with yourself, not be ashamed, and describe to your doctor how you are feeling, what you think might have caused it, and what you have done with/about it, your doctor (with examinations, of course, because they are not God, after all) would be able to let you know what more likely have happened (don’t be upset if you disagree, because you ain’t no expert about your body), what is actually the problem (they may not tell you directly, but could just “show” you. Many times, my doctor would help me realize what I thought was my problem, was not my actual problem. I definitely often “discovered” muscle I didn’t know “I have”), and treat it.
If I really want to be healed or make whole, I cannot feel entitled and presume the doctor to make everything right. Is the doctor capable of making me whole? I sure hope so. But, they need us to communicate!
That is how it can be considered this relationship like that we have with God regarding prayer.
God knows EVERYTHING about us, what we want, and what we NEED. His ultimate goal is not to please us but to make us whole and back to him. Nothing more and nothing less.
He doesn’t NEED us to tell Him anything and He will know EXACTLY what to do; HOWEVER, it’s all about if we trust Him, and who we think is in charge here.
If we even lie to Him as we pray, He often either ignore us or, better, yet, have some fun with us to steer us the right way.
When we pray, if we think as if we are showing Him how to fix things for us, not good. If we think as if we are entitled to anything we ask for, we are likely got something else coming for us.
If we are like that ONE leaper who came back to Him with a heart full of gratefulness, He will be pleased.
What? You think I’d say we will get what we want? Nah, it will still be a “yes,” “no,” or, “just wait.”
Remember, prayer is about making us whole with God, not treating God as Saint Nick.