Peripatetics: The Art of Walking
Monday, February 14, 2005
Since it's Valentine's Day, I thought I'd mix in a bit of romance with the Bible lesson. Actually, the story kind of fits what the point of the text we're going to look at today quite nicely...a very happy coincidence.
Anyway, in September of 1987 I was wrestling with a life-changing decision: Whether or not I wanted to marry the girl I was dating. We had been good friends for quite some time...almost two full years. We had been dating since January. We had been dating very seriously since March. By the time summer ended I felt like some choices had to be made.
Especially since I was moving 600 miles to attend seminary and she still had a full year of university to finish up. It seemed that, using a colliqualism from the Deep South, I needed to "fish or cut bait." That means I needed to either get serious about marrying her or I needed to end the relationship...get serious about "fishing" for the afternoon or call it a day and "cut bait." But at some point a decision simply has to be made.
I'd been praying about it.
It all seemed so complicated. So many things to think about...to analyze...to make determinations about...the whole deal. It's the most important decision you'll ever make in your life, and if ever a decision involved making sure you analyzed all the factors, this seemed to be the one.
So very complicated.
And then I attended a seminary class on family ministry and one of the professors told a story of a couple who came to visit him and wanted to know if it was God's will for them to get married.
The professor asked the girl: Do you love Christ and want to grow in Him? Do you love this young man? Do you like this young man? She said "yes" to all three questions.
The professor asked the young man: Do you love Christ and want to grow in Him? Do you love this woman? Do you like this woman? He said "yes" to all three questions.
The professor then stood up and said, "Get married, for crying out loud! Don't overthink this because it's really simple. If you love Christ and love each other, after that, it's all personal choices made moment-by-moment anyway, so get married. Don't wait. Do it as soon as possible, too!"
It made my choice simpler, too.
And that's the way the section we're going to read in 1 Thessalonians is. After Paul writes to that church and tells them a great deal about Christian behavior and personal trials and ways they could grow in their faith, not to mention a diatribe on the ever-confusing end times, the author then closes with these simple sayings:
"Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances.
But examine everything carefully;
hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil."
Isn't that simple enough? I mean, I can rejoice and give thanks. I can try not to quench the Spirit. I can examine everything carefully, I can pull for good, and even abstain from evil.
If we did only those things wouldn't our lives be more abundant?
And if we did those things on a societal scale, wouldn't our society be better, too?
Of course, it really isn't all that complicated, is it?
Or is it?
"Pray without ceasing?"
How do you do that? I mean, sometimes I can't pray for a minute without my mind wandering off in all sorts of directions, so I can't pray "without ceasing?" All the time, 24/7, praying? I'd get discouraged in my walk pretty quickly knowing full well that I couldn't attain to that standard.
But Paul is telling us to do it...so obviously, it can be done. And you'll find it healthy to know that Paul is telling us to pray as if we had a "persistent, hacking cough." That's what the Greek word is also used to describe. And we can relate to that, can't we? We've had that kind of thing in our lives...whenever we're just going along, living life, that it comes out of nowwhere and you just cough involuntarily. Nothing you can do about it...it just happens.
And that's what Paul is exhorting us to do: Pray when those things just pop into our brain. In other words, Paul is saying that prayer is an attitude we have when walking through life, and sometimes we verbalize it.
So part of your progressive sanctification (fancy words for "spiritual growth") involves praying as a response to your thoughts and mind. So, when you walk down the hall and you remember that friend's mom is in bad shape financially, say a little pryaer. When your friend tells you they're concerned about the upcoming tryouts pray for them. When you see your parents struggling to make ends meet. When your boss at work gets on to you, pray for him. When your pastor tells you he's had a rough week. When evil thoughts pop into your brain. Pray. When you know you should be focusing on the lecture the teacher's giving and you're thinking about the girl instead, pray for God to lead your thoughts back to the lecture.
And that's praying without ceasing. It can be done. It really is that simple
Today, as you go through your day, make a concerted effort to attempt to pray without ceasing...just having that attitude of eternal perspective on this temporary world, and then verbalizing those thoughts...you'll see how your perspective on your day changes as you come into harmony with what God wants for you. Maybe even take the time to write down your observations in a journal about any "successes" you have with this or difficulties you see in doing this...
Brent 3:11 AM
Comments:
"Persistant, hacking cough."
What a brilliant concept. I'm an incredibly visually oriented person, so everything I see sparks some sort of thought or memory. Today I've tried to pray for those things that come to mind...the test I have on Friday...my best friend in the army...and so on. I have not only been successful, but I feel better for it. When a not-so-pleasant thought comes into my head, when my "hard time" seems almost unbearable, I can pray for whatever the matter is and feel a lighter heart and peace.
That's all I got. Take care.
What a brilliant concept. I'm an incredibly visually oriented person, so everything I see sparks some sort of thought or memory. Today I've tried to pray for those things that come to mind...the test I have on Friday...my best friend in the army...and so on. I have not only been successful, but I feel better for it. When a not-so-pleasant thought comes into my head, when my "hard time" seems almost unbearable, I can pray for whatever the matter is and feel a lighter heart and peace.
That's all I got. Take care.
and what do you do when you want, so desperatly to be able to pray without ceasing...but when something goes wrong your first thought isnt prayer? And when someone is rude or pushy you think about being rude and pushy back verses praying for them? Thats when the "hacking cough" concept causes doubt and frustration. I guess the real question I'm trying to ask is how do you get yourself into the mindset of constant prayer?
Okay, i know that i should have the mindset of never ceasing prayer. However, as i've heard you say before, there is a difference between knowing and believing. What if i believe in God and his promises, and am saved and all of that good stuff, but i find myself not wanting to be never ceasing in prayer. Now don't get me wrong i still pray. But does it have to be something where i like step aside go into a corner bow my head and pray. Or is it just thinking to myself to God and having a relationship without having to step aside, and just do it then as i'm walking and just kind of think to myself "God be with so and so"???
sometimes i find that walking and praying (sometimes out loud) can be the best way for me to stay focused. whether its shopping at target, driving to school, wallking to class, etc. don't limit yourself to the "prayer closet". memorizing scripture and recalling them during the day can also be very refreshing.
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