I’m struck by the number of desperation prayers in the Prayer category. I screwed up my life, got fired, didn’t pay my taxes, ran up debts, lived an unhealthy lifetstyle, etc., etc. Bail me out, God.
I’m at least empathetic toward these folks, but this is the all-too-familiar perception of God as the Miracle Answer Man. It usually doesn’t work.
Perhaps the mess you’re in is a lesson from which you should be learning, not praying for deliverance? Perhaps a better prayer would be for the wisdom and courage to face it head-on and learn from it?
Meister Eckhart, the 13th century German mystic, famously said “If the only prayer you ever say is THANK YOU, that will be enough.” Keeping an "attitude of gratitude’ is a cliche, but I believe this is what is meant by praying constantly.
Perhaps thank God for the challenges you now face instead of attributing them to demons and praying for deliverance? Just a thought.
Paul asked three times to have the thorn in the flesh removed from him, yet submitting himself to the will of the Father regardless of how it afflicted him comes to mind.
My first wife and I lived with her breast cancer for seven years. I don’t think either of us ever prayed for it to be miraculously cured. At the end, we agreed those seven years had been the BEST years of our 33-year-marriage. This was true in every possible sense, including spiritual growth. After her death, the lead social worker at the cancer center said to me, “We were supposed to be here for Beverly, but we had nothing to offer her. She taught all of us SO MUCH just by being who she was.” She was accepting of her situation, using it as an opportunity for growth rather than something to be desperately seeking deliverance from - and her doctors, nurses and fellow patients could never quite believe someone could face pain and death in this way.
Your late wife and I share the same attitude. My cancer has been a time of growth and one prayer: thy will be done. Never prayed for miracles.
I have read books I had put off. Actually have enjoyed chemo time since I have met so many interesting people there. My thought has been: do what the doctors advise, have as much fun with loved ones as possible, and enter act with new people as well as old.
The only regrettable part other than pain and financial disaster was being in the hospital and a nurse, a former student, saw me in my birthday suit and assisted with bathing. But he also brought me plenty of snacks and hospital bling.
Well, and irritation when a local church had a prayer meeting for the high school football team to have a winning season. Frivolous!
Strangely enough, I even enjoyed the “chemo room.” Contrary to what people might think, it was an entirely positive, upbeat atmosphere. Something like cancer strips away all pretense, all illusions, all boundaries between people. Those who spend their time obsessing over miracle cures, medical or divine, miss what could be the most enriching part of their lives.
Why do I have the feeling most people here have NO CLUE what we’re talking about?
