Life as a River
Are you a Spiritual Procrastinator?
A recent article by one of my favorite authors - Mark Batterson - entitled,
Quit Praying, caught my attention. I include a portion of it below.
Quit Praying, caught my attention. I include a portion of it below.
Mark Batterson QUIT PRAYING
“Well done, good and faithful servant!”— Matthew 25:23
"One of the defining moments in my prayer life happened a decade ago. I was in a small group with a friend who worked for InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Georgetown University. Jeremy was working on a shoestring budget, and their campus ministry needed a computer. He shared the request at the end of our meeting, and I agreed to pray for it, but when I started praying for it, I felt that the Lord wanted me to stop praying. It was like the Holy Spirit said, “Why are you asking Me? You’re the one with the extra computer!” I quit praying in mid-sentence. I told Jeremy we didn't need to pray about it because I had an extra computer he could have.
I wonder how many of our prayer requests are within our own power to answer? Yet we ask God to do what we can do ourselves. And then we wonder why God doesn't respond. Maybe it’s because God won’t do for us what we can do for ourselves. God isn't honored by prayers that are within the realm of human possibility; God is honored when we ask Him to do what is humanly impossible. That way, God gets all the glory!
There are some things we don’t need to pray about:
I wonder how many of our prayer requests are within our own power to answer? Yet we ask God to do what we can do ourselves. And then we wonder why God doesn't respond. Maybe it’s because God won’t do for us what we can do for ourselves. God isn't honored by prayers that are within the realm of human possibility; God is honored when we ask Him to do what is humanly impossible. That way, God gets all the glory!
There are some things we don’t need to pray about:
- We don’t need to pray about loving our neighbors.
- We don’t need to pray about giving generously or serving sacrificially.
- We don’t need to pray about blessing someone when it is in our power to do so.
- We don’t have to pray about turning the other cheek or going the extra mile.
1. There comes a moment when praying becomes a form of spiritual procrastination. It’s time to stop praying and start acting.
2. Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. Pray about everything. Then pray some more. But at some point, we have to quit praying and start acting - in obedience
One of the great mistakes we make is asking God to do for us what God wants us to do for Him. We confuse roles. For example, we try to convict those around us of sin. But that is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility, not ours.
We are called to pray about everything, but there comes a time when praying can be a form of disobedience, laziness, or negligence. We can’t just pray like it depends on God; we also must work like it depends on us.
When everything is said and done, God won’t say, “Well thought,” “well planned,” or even “well prayed.” There is only one commendation He will give: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Excerpted from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, copyright Zondervan.
- Quit praying about the program and fill out an application.
- Quit praying for the friend you hurt and make a phone call.
- Don’t just complain to God about your coworker; circle them in prayer.
- Don’t just pray for missionaries; write a check.
2. Please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. Pray about everything. Then pray some more. But at some point, we have to quit praying and start acting - in obedience
One of the great mistakes we make is asking God to do for us what God wants us to do for Him. We confuse roles. For example, we try to convict those around us of sin. But that is the Holy Spirit’s responsibility, not ours.
We are called to pray about everything, but there comes a time when praying can be a form of disobedience, laziness, or negligence. We can’t just pray like it depends on God; we also must work like it depends on us.
When everything is said and done, God won’t say, “Well thought,” “well planned,” or even “well prayed.” There is only one commendation He will give: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Excerpted from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson, copyright Zondervan.
It got me to thinking about how I am sometime that spiritual procrastinator he speaks about. How many times have I found myself praying for something or about something, that I know perfectly well 'What I am to do'? I will do that tomorrow! But it is always tomorrow isn't it? The truth is that most of us are 'educated way beyond our level of obedience'. We know what to do, but we settle for.... "I need to keep praying about that', or I will do that tomorrow.
I am reminded of the TV sitcom with Bob Newhart, where he plays the Psychologist - Dr. Bob Hartley. In response to his clients many wows and problems, Dr Hartley pauses for a moment and then very sincerely says, "I have thought long and hard about the solution to your problem, and it is this: "STOP IT... JUST STOP IT"
Okay Lord, I will !! and NOW!!, not tomorrow!!
I am reminded of the TV sitcom with Bob Newhart, where he plays the Psychologist - Dr. Bob Hartley. In response to his clients many wows and problems, Dr Hartley pauses for a moment and then very sincerely says, "I have thought long and hard about the solution to your problem, and it is this: "STOP IT... JUST STOP IT"
Okay Lord, I will !! and NOW!!, not tomorrow!!
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7982 Hillcrest Trail
Jonesboro, Georgia 0236
404.784.4618
BLOG: www.hisrivers.org
EMAIL: his.rivers@gmail.com
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