PRAYER
THE GREAT ADVENTURE

  Ken Graydon

Those of us who are part of the ‘Star Trek’ generation may often be tempted to cry out “Beam me up Scotty – you’ve left me on the wrong planet!”

The world around us seems so different to the type of world that the Tanakh promises those people who are obedient to ETERNAL. We, those of us called to this path, are a remnant people. We are not Jewish, although some have explored the way of Judaism. Many of us have been involved in various brands of Xianity. Some have stepped right in from being agnostic or even atheists. Yet, here we are, called to be in this group by the CREATOR of the Universe. We do not have any personal claims to be special, it’s just that when ETERNAL sent out a call – we heard and responded to it. That makes us different, not better. The main thing that it shows us is, that we are in communication with ETERNAL.

 The Hebrew word for prayer ‘tefilah’, means to judge or inspect oneself. It is a state of mind where we are asking ourselves ‘what do I need to change about myself to let ETERNAL act in my life?’ When we are faced with a need for healing prayer we often have to deal with the situation ‘if the way I live makes me sick, what do I need to change?’ We will visit prayer for healing later.

Once we understand, that prayer is our reaching out for ETERNAL, knowing that we need to change for Him to bless us. We participate in a process, which enables us to change. Perhaps today, ETERNAL could say ‘yes’ to a prayer request that He said ‘no’ to yesterday. If, we have changed enough.

It is a wonderful thing to be called into a one-on-one relationship with the CREATOR of the Universe. It is even more wonderful that He accepts us, as we are now and accepts our repentance, enabling us to change for the better. Most of all, we value the closeness we are allowed to ETERNAL, no one comes between us. ETERNAL makes it abundantly clear that He does not share His glory, or authority, with anyone.

We can only maintain our part of the relationship with ETERNAL through prayer. As we have already said, prayer is a process of transformation. Each prayer brings the possibility of change. That is why I have called this piece ‘Prayer – the great adventure’ because each prayer can take you one step toward a new you or a new place to be. To revisit our Star Trek story – ‘to boldly go where no prayer has taken me before’.

One of the purposes of prayer is to keep us aware of the role ETERNAL has in our life. The more we do it the better. It is like anything else we do in our life – if we want to do it better, we have to practice it continually. Who of us does not want to be able to pray better and communicate better with the CREATOR of the Universe?

Until I retired I spent a lot of time in the bus business. Even now I get asked to take groups out by bus. I would not dream of driving a bus or coach load of people without having prayed about their comfort and safety and for an increase in my skills and protection over the whole event.

We can probably talk about 200 words a minute but your brain can think about 500 words a minute so there is a lot of time, when you are praying, that your brain can wander off into distraction. It takes discipline to concentrate on the words of prayer. You need the correct mind-set, an absolute intention to be in communication with ETERNAL. Perhaps you need a particular place where you go to pray, or some special piece of music or a specific position. Whatever it takes to allow you to be totally involved in your prayer communication with ETERNAL.

There is a particular type of prayer, which comes out of the Tanakh tradition, that can give us a challenge. The prayer is called a blessing; berekhah in Hebrew. Each of these blessing prayers begin the same way

Barukh atah Hashem, Elokaynu, melekh ha-olam  “Blessed art Thou Lord, our God, King of the Universe”.

If we have been involved, or seen pictures of catholics at confession you will know that one of the phrases used is ‘bless me, father, for I have sinned’. When we use the blessing prayers of Hebrew we are not offering to bless ETERNAL but we are acknowledging how blessed He is. The mind-set is different. These blessing prayers are to keep in our mind our constant relationship with ETERNAL. The prayer after eating, for wearing new clothes, even using the bathroom [‘thank You that my plumbing works’] are constant reminders of our closeness to, and dependence on, ETERNAL.

Another difference we notice about prayer, on this walk, is that we do not concentrate on personal prayers but rather on community prayers. We ask ETERNAL to bless and protect each and every one of us. If I am to fulfil my role as your Hebrew brother I need to care about you and pray about your circumstances – as you do for me.

We have the assurance, first, that ETERNAL is our Redeemer and Saviour. He has called us out of our world experience to join Him on this walk of love and obedience. Secondly, we know that we are able to approach ETERNAL directly with our prayers, no one has to come between us. We receive answers, revelation and guidance from the CREATOR of the Universe. Thirdly, no matter where we live, we know that we have brothers and sisters who care for us, pray for us and seek only the best of circumstances for us. It is the preview of a Wonderful World Tomorrow where we may expect to be called together in ‘the Land’ to join the Messiah.

PRAYING FOR OTHERS.

We each have to learn lessons, make changes in our lives, repent and atone to be able to be in the will of ETERNAL. No-one else can do this for us. We have to examine our lives to try to understand why we are not enjoying the very best of circumstances. Go before ETERNAL in prayer, ask Him what you need to change. Be prepared for some very blunt answers. We have a saying here, in dealing with our children, ‘if they are old enough to ask the question – they are old enough to hear the answer.’ If you are able to ask ETERNAL “how should I change?” Expect Him to tell, or show you.

I have said that first so that you will understand why I say that you should ask for someone’s permission before you pray for him or her. If a person needs to make changes in their life so that they, or their circumstances, can be healed there is no point if you, as a powerful prayer-partner of ETERNAL, seek their healing. If they have not made the required changes in their life they will have to go through that lesson all over again.

Of course you can pray about dire circumstances but seek ETERNAL’s will for the outcome. Your prayers will always be answered positively – if you are praying for the outcome ETERNAL wants. How do you know what He wants? – you ask Him and wait for His answer.

I remember learning this lesson in a very expensive way. A friend of mine developed cancer in his face and had a series of operations, this was in the closing days of my xtian experience. I did every kind of prayer performance I knew – and some I made up. Finally I borrowed seven thousand dollars to send him and his wife to a Benny Hinn performance in South Carolina . That is a long way from here in Western Australia . My friend died two weeks later. I had to re-pay the money I borrowed.

If someone does ask you to pray for them, then you may assume they are getting ready to make some changes in their life which may allow ETERNAL to bring His healing into a situation. You will not always be praying for sudden and dramatic healing. Sometimes a prayer for peace and courage may be appropriate.

If a person has a lifestyle which is contradictory to the clear lessons of the Torah – then there is no point in praying for their complete healing but you may very well pray that they will gain peace, understanding and will seek repentance.

Prayers for healing do not need to be long or complicated. In Numbers 12:13 when ETERNAL had caused Miriam to develop leprosy because she criticised Moses the simple prayer, which worked, was “ETERNAL, please heal her.”

Although she was healed by ETERNAL, Miriam still had to spend seven days outside the camp. Everyone in the camp knew that they were waiting for Miriam before they could move on. Do you think that Miriam learned a lesson from this? Did it change her attitude and her life?

I am a great believer in ‘prayer prescriptions’. That is, giving a person who asks for prayer some particular verses to say, three times a day, after meals. It usually takes some prayer and study to find the verses for a particular person but, if they will use them, it keeps them focused on the purpose of the prayer – to be in communication with ETERNAL and to make whatever changes are necessary so that He can bring healing into the situation. Let me give you two verses from Job to use for yourself. Say them, three times a day, for two whole weeks and then let us know what changes you have experienced. The words are changed to make them personal.  

Job 11: 17,18.  Life will be brighter than noon;

I will shine, I will be like the morning.

I will rest secure, for there is hope,

And entrenched – I will rest secure.

THE PROCESS OF PRAYER

After building the Temple , King Solomon called the people together, brought the Ark and all the vessels from the Tent of Meeting into the Temple . Then Solomon offered a prayer to ETERNAL, [read all of 1 Kings, chapter 8], that tells us about our prayer communication with ETERNAL.

Verse 22; Solomon stood and spread his palms toward heaven.

Verse 29; may You heed the prayers Your servants offer toward this place. [i.e, in the direction of Jerusalem ]

Verse 35; when they pray toward this place, acknowledge Your name and repent of their sins.

Verse 38; each person who knows their own affliction.

Verse 43; grant all that the foreigner asks you.

Verse 48; turn back to you and pray in the direction of this House.

You will understand more fully when you read the entire chapter but the brief synopsis is that we should pray standing – with our arms raised, facing in the direction of Jerusalem , from wherever you are. We are to acknowledge ETERNAL as our Redeemer and Saviour and repent of our sins. Daily repentance is a very wise choice to make. People who have a prayer relationship with ETERNAL will know what afflictions they have and can seek to repent and change so that healing may come. You do not have to be Jewish. Foreigners, called by ETERNAL may pray to Him and have their prayers answered. Once again, repent turn back to ETERNAL face the direction of Jerusalem . We do know from Isaiah 56:7 that ETERNAL says ‘My house shall be called a House of Prayer for all people.

The Tanakh offers us simple truths. They are not always easy to do but they are simple concepts that we can understand.

IS IT OK TO PRAY FOR STUFF?

It is part of our relationship with ETERNAL that we may engage Him in conversation, share our deepest concerns and our gratitude. He chooses to answer our prayers, His way.

We must always remember that ‘ETERNAL is not our servant’ nor is He a ‘poker machine in the sky’. It is not a matter of putting enough prayers in to win a jackpot!

There are many life-changing promises in the Tanakh, that’s why we love that book. Look at Isaiah 65:24 Before they pray, I will answer; while they are still speaking, I will respond. It does not get any better than that. I wonder if you have had the experience of praying for something and the answer arrives in the mail – so you know the answer had been posted before you asked the question?

Of course you can pray for stuff. Certainly you can [and should] pray for a partner, of the opposite sex, to share your life with. If your life is not measuring up to the promises of Deuteronomy 28:1-14 [read it in your Tanakh] then you have another reason for prayer. Do not expect the blessings if you are not being obedient, so your first prayer has to be for ETERNAL to show you how you need to improve your level of obedience. If you can honestly say to Him ‘I am being as obedient as I know to be, I am doing everything I understand to do.’ Then you may pray for those blessings to come into your life and expect to see them.

I do not want to give you a formula prayer – we have all seen those in other places and how often they just become a stream of words – but I will give you an outline of the kind of things you may cover in your prayers with ETERNAL.

1.     ETERNAL I love you. You are my Redeemer and Saviour.

2.     Thank you ETERNAL for the blessings and protection of the day.

3.     Repentance for the acts and thoughts of disobedience.

4.     ETERNAL please bless and protect …[family, community etc]

5.     ETERNAL help me to be able to receive your blessings in my life.

6.     ETERNAL please use me to do Your will.

You might also choose to read and meditate on Psalm 111 and use affirmations to keep yourself open to ETERNAL’s action in your life.

LOOKING FOR ANSWERS

ETERNAL may choose to answer prayers in many different ways. [Balaam got his answers from a talkative donkey]. Do not expect that you will have a visit from an angel every time ETERNAL needs to motivate you. ETERNAL will act through people, through sudden natural events, through animals, or even miraculously, to communicate with you. The Israelites, during the Exodus, for all their disobedience, did not separate their spiritual life from their material life – it was all one. We need to have that same openness because ETERNAL treats all of our life as a spiritual exercise. Whatever you do, or wherever you go you are participating in a relationship with ETERNAL. He will bring answers into your life, in His timing and by His methods.

Prayer is a great privilege, it is a great blessing and a great challenge. It can change your whole life, from this day on. You need never be alone, you need never lack understanding, you need never lack a sense of direction.

That is why PRAYER IS THE GREAT ADVENTURE.       

kgraydon@erskinegrove.com.au