It's Stinkin Oppressive

Recently, I was able to catch up with a dear friend that I haven't seen or communicated with in nearly two years. It was just an email or two, but it was enough to see that when the Lord blesses us with friendships and relationships, and they are from Him, it is a beautiful thing. In the brief message that I received, it was clear that God had ordained this time and this conversation. 

Lately, I have been thinking and reading a lot about prayer. Last week, I read these words from John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim's Progress, arguably the best allegory of the Christian faith ever written (who would actually argue that I don't know). He said, 

"Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, 

a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan."

-John Bunyan

So with these words somewhere in the back of my head, for some reason I had the desire to contact this long lost friend. He, obviously was unaware of my recent thoughts on prayer, but nevertheless, he gave me these words- not necessarily in this context, but this phrase is exactly as it appeared in that message-  "...[if] one doesn't have a spirit of prayer, then its stinkin oppressive."

How true! Over the last two weeks, I have been praying, to be a better pray"er". I had been thinking on the fact that so often I offer God cheap prayers, but I want to be known as one who prays costly prayers. I am reminded of Cain and Abel's sacrifices. God didn't want Cain's. They both gave sacrifices; they both gave the best they had, but God said that it wasn't enough, and that it would not do. It was not a blood sacrifice. It was not as costly; and the cost of sin was very high.

I am still praying to be a better pray''er''. It is hard. honesty is hard; But it is good. I would encourage all of you who read this, to consider your prayer life. I have considered mine, and it is rather cheap. I shudder to think that I have been living my Christian life thus far offering, almost exclusively, cheap prayers to a most high God. The God who gave us everything, is He not worthy of the most costly prayers from the deepest groaning of our souls?

This blog was a joy to write for two reasons. I got to write about some of the things that I am learning and God is teaching, but I also got to share how God works through others in our lives. To my friend, if you read this, it has been a while, but God has not stopped using you to impact my life. It is my hope that I am impacting others half as much as you have impacted me. Thank you brother.

Peace,

Joel