EXPECTANT PRAYER
There are times when
I am not expectant of what God is yet to say and do. Oftentimes prayer has
become mechanical - an involuntary motion just like 'blinking' that has somehow
lost its meaning and value. But this morning I am reminded that our attitude when
it comes to prayer should be like that of the Psalmist who waited with so much
anticipation to hear God's words and see His actions revealed. He uttered,
"I pray to God...and wait for what he'll say and do." (Psalm 130, The
Message). The faith of the Psalmist is founded in the truth that God is
constantly speaking and moving to 'make things beautiful in His time.' With
this kind of eager expectation and hope in the One Almighty God, I believe our
prayer will never be dull, boring or dragging. It becomes deeply transforming.
In a world where we
constantly fall prey to the 'tyranny of the urgent' prayer, which necessitates
waiting, has become a lost 'art.' We often pray, "Lord, give me patience
right now!" I myself while doing my very best to be a good father has often
wished that my little sons would become mature grown ups right away. But deep within I know that it takes patient
years of nurturing for that to happen. Yes, anything worthwhile in this world
takes time to grow and nurture.
In the same manner,
God our Father is nurturing us patiently to become persons created in His image
as we draw to Him in a posture of expectation. Let our lives be a manifestation
of God's handiwork as we patiently come to Him with expectant hearts.
Lord, teach me to be
very patient, expectant and full of hope every time I go to You in prayer
knowing that You are yet to speak and do great and mighty things in the world.
Amen.
