Welcome to this 40 day journey and thank you for being a part of this blog conversation! Enjoy your journey today! If you have time read through the introduction material in the book. It is helpful in understanding where the author is coming from.
Read Day One in “Why Pray?”
Today’s Scripture – Luke 10:38-42 “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
The topic for Day One in “Why Pray?” affected me at a deeper level than I thought! I have read a lot of books on prayer and they generally start out with fairly cushy lists of the reasons we need to prayer. “Does It Pay to Pray?” cut a little deep – struck a nerve… Why?
I have wrestled with that a bit! I am thinking that part of the reason is because I do use the “Does it pay?” litmus test a great deal in my life. I think it is core to our culture to be efficient, effective, look for the best ROI (Return on Investment), have the least amount of waste ,…! These are great litmus tests for a number of things in my life but perhaps it is detrimental for me to test prayer life – or spiritual life that way!
Perhaps prayer is bigger than the question “Does it Pay?” or “Is it efficient use of time?” – Perhaps if I go down that road I will miss really what prayer is about and perhaps a whole chunk of what it means to have a relationship with God? I wonder – How do things work in God’s economy?
What do you think? What grabbed your attention in the “Why Pray?” reading?
How does this whole idea of “efficiency” or “Does it pay?” in respect to prayer strike you?
Let me know what you think! I would enjoy reading your comments!
Before you close this “Why Pray?” experience for today I encourage you to take 5 minutes to be still with God. Pray… or just sit with God for 5 inefficient minutes… whether it pays or not! Listen – Pray- notice any obstacles or “voices like Martha’s” (Luke 10:38-42) Enjoy!
Delton