A Powerful Humility
I’ve referenced my friend Tyson before. He coined the phrase: Palms up. Open hands. Go big. It’s a beautiful combination of purpose and humility. I was reminded of his catch phrase when I listened to Pastor Bo speak about prayer to a group of intercessors last Sunday.
She was asked about prayer and shared from Isaiah 43, where God humbles His readers with the limitless creativity of His redemptive plans. Pastor Bo then shared that Isaiah’s words prompted two questions for her: What’s possible? And, what’s at stake? What might God do if we pray, and what would most powerfully motivate the commitment and urgency of our common prayer life?
The discussion that followed Bo’s questions ranged from prophecy to deliverance to spiritual formation. It was lively. Many shared the way they’d learned to pray, and how their approach addressed the most urgent needs in their view. As I listened, it occurred to me that these people were asking themselves, “How do we fix this?” That’s an important question, but it’s not: “What’s possible? And, what’s at stake?”
They wanted to see God’s power released, fixing the problems that plague our communities. So do I! That’s a worthy aim, but calling on God’s power is no small thing. The author Richard Foster writes, “Many have been destroyed in their walk with God simply because their exercise of power was not controlled by humility. Power without humility is anything but a blessing.”
As the discussion waned, one brother offered extraordinary advice. It was as if he’d just read Foster. He shared how God was humbling him, inviting him to look into the proverbial mirror in James’ letter. He sensed God’s desire to draw him closer. He encouraged us that nurturing intimacy with God was the best way to start engaging Bo’s questions about prayer, the best route to praying with power.
What’s possible? And, what’s at stake? To address these questions, we need to sit unhurriedly with Jesus and listen. As that thought occurred to me, I recalled Paul’s autobiography:
Galatians 1:11-24
I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people and was extremely zealous for the traditions of my fathers. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son in me so that I might preach him among the Gentiles, my immediate response was not to consult any human being. I did not go up to Jerusalem to see those who were apostles before I was, but I went into Arabia. Later I returned to Damascus. Then after three years…
Paul has this I-was-blind-now-I-see encounter with Jesus. He is commissioned as the Lord’s Apostle to the Gentiles, and the first significant thing he does is go into seclusion? That’s what “into Arabia” means. He leaves behind his religious striving. He doesn’t go immediately to Peter and James, seeking their sponsorship. He doesn’t strategize and submit plans to them. He taps out. He goes into the desert…for years. He seeks Jesus first and waits upon His instruction through patient, Spirit-led prayer and meditation. He retreats to prepare for God’s power and purpose to fall upon him in earnest.
As a praying people, we can’t give you years, but we can offer you an hour on Tuesday nights at 7:00 PM . And, a mission: to hold our pastor’s arms up throughout the battle as Aaron and Hur did for Moses.
So, we’ll forego a list of prayer prompts with this encouragement and instead, embrace preparation. Try spending most of an hour with Jesus. Bring your Bible, a journal, something to write with, and say one simple prayer. “Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening.” Record what He says to you and about you, how you should be praying, or anything else He wants to share. The time is His, and yours.
— Pastor Steve