It's not about "Fixing You"

For me, October has held an emphasis on prayer.  On Saturday, 6^th October, several members of St. Mary’s Prayer Team attended a half-day of training.  Our team had taken a short break in August due to school holidays.  So, as we were preparing to resume the prayer ministry in September, we learned of an opportunity to participate in a training day offered by a local Baptist church. 

Each of us who attended came away encouraged, with fresh perspectives.  Reverend Colin Norris from the Southern Counties Baptism Association came to led us through the morning. (Sothern Counties of England—Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Dorset, Hampshire and Oxfordshire—not to be confused with Southern Baptist church in the USA!)  Reverend Norris didn’t lecture or teach so much as guide and facilitate.  He asked us questions, waited for feed-back and helped us focus on the dynamics of praying.

In 2005 the British Band, Coldplay, released its hit song, “Fix You.”  It’s a haunting and beautiful song.  But every time I’ve heard it, I’ve found myself thinking—“But I can’t fix anybody.  Only Jesus can do that.” 

Reverend Norris reminded us the firstly, prayer is not an attempt to fix a person who has come to ask us to pray for/with him or her.  Next prayer is not a magic formula that if we repeat it by rote the answer to our prayer will suddenly appear.  Rather, prayer is a time of opening ourselves to God, and helping the other person to sense God’s presence and care. 

At the end of the training that day we were given hand-outs with several quotes and references.

I’d like to share a few things from that handout.

• “Focus of Christian healing is not merely curing the physical or emotional problems we suffer from.  It is an invitation to go on a journey into wholeness with God, where the riches of his care is nurtured to the roots of our being and our relationships.”  (Russ Parker, et al)
• “Health is ultimately about being fully human, as Jesus.”
• “Our role is to remember that we are partners with God and others.”

As a Christian, I believe that prayer is a life-style—a constant communication between God and myself.  Sometimes I pray for myself.  Often I pray for others. 

I cherish opportunities to pray for others; especially when realising that in sharing a need with me, he or she is becoming vulnerable, exposing something that is a tender spot in his/her heart.  Confidentiality is a must; trust is precious. 

Praying is not about me figuring out the answer.  It is about recognising my limitedness, my finiteness.  It is about understanding and accepting God’s limitlessness, His infiniteness.  Prayer is about the crystal clear understanding and acknowledgement of need—whether my own or someone else’s—and voicing it to Our Loving Heavenly Father.  Prayer is stating to God that we are listening for His wisdom, trusting His guidance and taking hold of His hand.  When I pray, I am showing that I do not take for granted God’s provision—I am not presuming upon His grace. 

Prayer is asking, because God tells us to ask.  I am asking because I know God will answer.  Maybe my Glorious Father will not answer the way I want Him to.  Perhaps His time-line is different than my time-line.  It is conceivable His response is “No.”  But I’ve learned His “NOs” are truly for my highest good.  I often say to the Lord, “Father, even though I can’t see what You’re doing, I know you are at work.”

But mostly, for me, praying is about sharing my heart with God—and Him sharing His heart with me. 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,

“Lady Helene”