I have been asked more often about prayer than any other topic related to faith. Does it really work? If prayer does really work, then how does that happen since all our prayers are certainly not answered in the way we want? Here are a few thoughts on prayer and a poem I wrote earlier this year.

Prayer is life beyond our understanding-- a mysterious connection. Prayer is action--a mystical channel through which God touches and transforms the world. When we pray, the first action is to listen and then speak in words that reveal themselves through the open channel of your life. The Spirit moves through you and into you and there is prayer. God's presence comes in us and through us and prayer continues--and God's will is done. 

 So, is prayer effective? When and why is it effective, or not effective? The Bible says that the effectiveness of prayer is not dependent on the amount of our faith. We just use the faith we have and, even if it is no more than a small mustard seed's worth of faith, it would be enough to move a mountain. (Matthew 17: 20) The real issues in prayer, then, are God's ability to act and our response. Faith is trusting that God can do something. Faith is our being willing to change in response to and cooperation with God's actions in our lives and in our world.

Prayer is one way to put free will into action. Prayer is a matter of truly wanting social justice, of universal inclusion of those who are outcasts, and of loving our enemy. And prayer involves more than just God and us. Prayer includes the systems and powers of darkness of our world. Free will is in play all around. We have the choice to cooperate in God's purpose-or not. Every single human being has that same choice to be selfish-or not. The systems that control so much of this world likewise have the choice to respect persons or to exploit them.

Faith tells us that God hears our prayers right away, but the response is delayed by the failure of individuals and institutions to act in cooperation with God's vision for creation-justice mercy, and loving relationship with God. Perhaps God is waiting on us to respond-waiting for us to hear the prayers of the hungry and the outcast. Can it be that God is asking us, "How long will you cooperate with systemic injustice and greed in the world?" Walter Wink, The Powers That Be, 199) Only God can redeem people and systems. God apparently does so only with our help.

To pray is to reach into yourself

            And touch the center -- and rest.

To pray is to reach out to God

            Wherever God lives -- and listens.

To pray is to reach into your memory

            And embrace healing and celebrate life.

To pray is to reach out to others

            For their growth -- and your salvation.

To pray is to reach, to risk

            And not to reach at all.

To pray is to be on a journey

            And remain at home.

To pray is to laugh in pain and cry in joy

            And change the world through weakness.

To pray is to give life to God

            And receive it back again.  --Jack Price, 2010

Thanks for continuing to bless me as we journey together.
  
Jack Price

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