Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 2009                                                      by Allison J

I have been seeking lots of direction lately.  Barrages of questions crash against my mind—counsel and memories pace back and forth in my head.  The prophet Jeremiah wrote, “Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD” (Lam. 3:40).  I have often found that even in my earnestness to seek out guidance, it can consume my thoughts and distract me even more.  That’s why Jeremiah says, “and return to the Lord.” 

In the first chapter of Mark we read that Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law and it seems that as news of that spread, that, as Mark records it, “the whole town gathered at the door.”  Jesus healed many people that night, but not all of them.  Scripture tells us that very early in the morning Jesus sought out a place where he could be alone—and then He prayed.  He could have said that He had no time to pray because he had too much to do, as Mark records that Simon and some others come looking for Jesus exclaiming that many more are seeking Him out.  No, Jesus prayed because there was so much that awaited his attention.  Jesus, the Son of God, found it necessary to withdraw himself from the crowds to speak to His Father about direction—about focus on purpose and goal.  Jesus had a ready answer when Simon tells him of the many awaiting his healing touch because He had communion with the Father.

I have realized that in the maze of my many questions, I have gotten so caught up in wanting to know the answer itself that I have forgotten to seek out the sweetness of the journey with God in getting there.  “Our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry, and crowds.  If he can keep us engaged in “much-ness” and “many-ness,” he will rest satisfied” (R.J. Foster).  And it’s not that there’s anything wrong with being occupied, but when the frenzy of anything consumes us, we can get lost so easily. 

I remember a dynamic preacher I once heard that said prayer was “entertaining God.”  What a fascinating thought!  He told the story of Abraham “entertaining God” in Genesis 18.  Abraham was sitting outside of his tent when he noticed three men standing nearby.  He needed to make the request of the three angelic figures to not pass him by, and when he did, and took the time to “entertain God,” the Lord then revealed to Abraham His will and His secrets.  Prayer is, in a sense, preparing a feast for God and washing His feet as Abraham did.  It is saying “God, don’t pass me by.”  Like a waiter, Abraham stood by and celebrated the presence of the pre-carnate Yeshua.

In the frenzy of my seeking, instead of hosting God, I was letting Him “pass by.”  The power in prayer is asking God to be visible through our visibility, to touch through our touching, to love through our loving, to speak through our speaking—and in addition to getting answers as Abraham did, others will see and know that it could not have been you and will recognize and glorify our Father in heaven.  In entertaining God through prayer we allow Him to open up our barrenness—it is when fire comes down from heaven and gives life to the dead bones.  When I examine my ways and test them, and return to activate God in this little clay temple of mine, I can say, “O Lord, you took up my case; you redeemed my life” (Lam. 3:58).