Christian Reflection and Prayer

Scripture:

"If you remain in me and my words remain in you,
you may ask what you will and you shall get it"
John 15:7

Reflection:

In a book containing a collection of letters that
children have addressed to God, a little boy named
Eric writes, "Dear God, is it okay to talk to you
even when I don't want anything? Love, Eric."

It's not only okay, Eric, it's probably best. All you
need to do is to enter into union with God lovingly,
trustingly, prayerfully, and God will provide you with
whatever you need to make you whole. Make the
connection, get in touch and stay in touch -- Spirit-
to-spirit -- and God will do the rest.

Caryll Houselander, author of many books on
spirituality, wrote a letter to a friend who was having
difficulty praying. The following lines are from that
communique:

"I wanted to say I could perfectly understand the
sense of fear you feel about prayer, for I've had it too.
But I think that a simple desire on your part that God
should act in you as He wills is sufficient. I do not
think it need even be formulated in words. If you just
mean something without saying it, like, 'I don't feel
as if I trust you, but I do,' then God will do the rest,
and He will enter then into the darkness of your night
as the rays of the sun enter into the dark, hard earth,
driving right down to the roots of the tree"...

(from Sunday Sermons Online)

There's an old legend about a man who wandered
throughout the world seeking his deepest desires.
He wandered from one city to another, from one
realm to another looking for fulfillment and happiness,
but in all his wanderings never came to it. Finally one
day, tired from his search, he sat down underneath a
great tree at the foot of a mountain. What he did not
know is that this was "The Great Wish Fulfilling Tree.
" Whatever one wishes for when seated underneath
immediately becomes true.

As he rested his weariness he thought to himself,
"What a beautiful spot is this. I wish I had a home
here," and instantly before his eyes a lovely home
appeared. Surprised and delighted he thought further,
"Ah, if only I had a partner to be here with me, then
my happiness would be complete," and in a moment
a beautiful woman appeared calling him "husband"
and beckoning to him. "Well first, I am hungry," he
thought. "I wish there was food to eat." Immediately
a banquet table appeared covered with every
wonderful kind of food and drink, main courses,
pastries, sweets of every variety. The man sat down
and began to feast himself hungrily, but part way
through the meal, still feeling tired he thought, "I wish
I had a helper to serve me this food," and sure enough
a servant appeared.

Finishing the meal the man sat back down to lean
against this wonderful tree and began to reflect, "How
amazing it is that everything I wish has come true.
There is some mysterious force about this tree. I
wonder if there is a demon who lives in it?" And sure
enough, no sooner had he thought this than a great
demon appeared. "Oh, my," he thought, "this demon
will probably eat me up," and that is exactly what it did.

(from Sunday Sermons Online)

God Will Provide!

Scripture:

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but
those who trust in the Lord will never lack any good
thing.
Psalm 34:10 NLT

Quote:

Dear God, I know you will provide, but why don't
you provide until you provide?
(Jewish saying)

Reflection:

The empty basket

When Palestine was partitioned, Maltar and his family
were stranded in Jerusalem. Daily his family read the
Lord's promises, such as those of Psalm 34. One day
Maltar said, "Children, we finished the last of our food
for breakfast. We have no money. We'll tell this only
to the Lord, and I'll go out with this basket." So they
prayed around the empty basket.

Maltar went to the bank, but there was still no money
coming through. As he turned to go, he saw a friend
from his hometown in the line. He'd left before the
worst troubles and banked his money in Jerusalem.
"Maltar!" his friend cried. "What are you doing here?"

"We were on holiday in our small house in Jerusalem
and weren't able to get back home," Maltar said.

"Then you must be having money problems. How are
you managing?"

"Fine," Maltar told him and left the bank.

His friend overtook him: "You can't be fine, Maltar,
with nine kids to feed." He dropped a handful of bank
notes into the basket.
The children, waiting at the gate, stared in wonder
as Maltar returned with an overflowing basket.
(Patricia St. John
in Finding God Between a Rock and Hard Place)

David said, "Those who honor will have all they need"
(Psalm 34:9).

WHY NOT CLAIM THAT PROMISE TODAY?

Adapted from Men of Integrity Devotional Bible with
devotions from the editors of Men of Integrity, a
publication of Christianity Today International
(Tyndale, 2002), entry for May 13.