Propitious Prayer: Paradigms

As we adjust our thinking according to Romans 12:2, we should find ourselves making shifts out of a worldly mindset into a Kingdom mindset.  In other words, we move more into thinking like God in our view and response to real life around us.

When we look a one definition of "paradigm", it says this:
"A framework containing the basic assumptions, ways of thinking, and methodology that are commonly accepted by members of a ... community."

We looked at a couple of images which can be viewed from different perspectives (young lady / old lady, old couple / mexican guitarist) which begins to help us understand the impact of paradigm shift.  Here is a cartoon which puts this in a comic view.

We brainstormed a number of situations by which we deal with a difference of perspective or an opportunity to experience a paradigm shift.  Some of those examples were: generational, physical challenges, geography, gender, etc.  One aspect of shift we are challenged to make is our focus on "sin" rather than the all of the success possibilities we have in God.  Imagine that one point of a sin - like a black dot on a white board - that seems to consume us in our lives.  We walk around and everything we think or do is tainted by that one little black point of focus.  After we ask forgiveness, as 1 John 1:9 states we should, we gives thanks and then refocus on all of the "white" surrounding that "black" dot.  Our enemy would love nothing more than to have us focus our attention, energies, time, thoughts on the "black" dot.  God would rather have us focus on His goodness, mercy, and grace manifested in our lives.  Check out Philippians 4:8!

In our individual growth path with Jesus, we will be challenged in our thinking to grow beyond our current state.  This is a GOOD thing because it moves us closer to how God thinks and that's our goal and objective - to be like minded with God as stated in 1 Corinthians 2:14-16.  As opportunities arise, we can either resist or partner with God in that change - let's partner with zest!

Propitious Prayer: Presumptions

After a quick review of our last meeting's discussion points, we delved into more understanding on the topic of "presumptions".  One definition of presumptuous is "failing to observe the limits of what is permitted or appropriate".  Here's an illustration:

THE TELEGRAPH

Back when the telegraph was the fastest means of long-distance communication, there was a story about a young man who applied for a job as a Morse code operator. Answering an ad in the newspaper, he went to the address that was listed. When he arrived, he entered a large, noisy office. In the background a telegraph clacked away.

A sign on the receptionist’s counter instructed job applicants to fill out a form and wait until they were summoned to enter the inner office. The young man completed his form and sat down with seven other waiting applicants. After a few minutes, the young man stood up, crossed the room to the door of the inner office, and walked right in.

Naturally the other applicants perked up, wondering what was going on. Why had this man been so bold? They muttered among themselves that they hadn’t heard any summons yet. They took more than a little satisfaction in assuming the young man who went into the office would be reprimanded for his presumption and summarily disqualified for the job.

Within a few minutes the young man emerged from the inner office escorted by the interviewer, who announced to the other applicants, "Gentlemen, thank you very much for coming, but the job has been filled by this young man."

The other applicants began grumbling to each other, and then one spoke up, "Wait a minute! I don’t understand. He was the last one to come in, and we never even got a chance to be interviewed. Yet he got the job. That’s not fair."

The employer responded, "All the time you’ve been sitting here, the telegraph has been ticking out the following message in Morse code: 'If you understand this message, then come right in. The job is yours.' None of you heard it or understood it. This young man did. So the job is his."

To help apply this a little in our everyday existence, when one of my own children enter our house, goes straight to the kitchen, opens the refrigerator and eats something in there ... that is not necessarily presumptuous.  Now, if a complete stranger were to do this same thing, that would be entirely and fully presumptuous!  The thought of being presumptuous is lost on us sometimes.  We slip into a casual or comfortable lifestyle and make presumptions and step where it's not permitted or appropriate.

In our endeavor to have a childlike relationship with our Heavenly Father, part of that means changing how we approach Him.  In our conversation (aka prayer) with Him, we may take the "teen" approach where we are concerned for what others think.  Or perhaps, we take the "adult" approach and analyze our conversation and make it more complex than it needs to be.

In our last meeting we discussed how Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane to have something changed that He Himself had decided before creation.  Now, that "other" Way wasn't an option ... but, it didn't keep Jesus from praying about it - was that presumptuous?  I don't believe so - it was honest and open - which is what a genuine conversation should be.  The reality is that Jesus FULLY trusted His Father and His plan - can we do any less?  The Bible is pretty clear in how Jesus walked with Our Father - when we understand John 5:19, 7:16-18, 8:28, 12:49-50 we see basically that Jesus did what the Father told Him to do and said what the Father told Him to say.

I'm thinking that we'll revisit this point as the weeks continue because it's a game changer in our whole approach to how we talk with God while knowing that "favorable conditions are present".

Propitious Prayer: Assumptions

Our expedition continued this week in reviewing the James/Ephesians Bridge from past seasons:

In this image is a bridge with guardrails which are set in place by James 4:2 and James 4:3.  If our activity (prayer, in this study) falls within the guardrails, there is a wide open space where God can move beyond our imagination and wildest dreams (Ephesians 3:20).  Our discussion covered how we "might" try to stay within the rails by cautiously walking along the top, or, even hang on the outside, over the edge, thinking that God will honor His word.  As the world in which we live shows us, that type of "edginess" can be very problematic if not down right presumptuous.

We next moved into a deeper dive of Luke 18 by looking at the whole chapter and considering the various parables that Jesus used here.  The range of discovery covered such positives notes as "humility", "persistence", and "priorities".

When it comes to our action and reaction with our Heavenly Father, the imagery that Jesus uses is that of a child.  When we brainstormed some characteristics of being childlike, we came up with "simple", "trusting", "genuine/authentic", and "dependent".  In a comparison of being childish versus childlike, here is a review:

Childish	Childlike
Manipulate	Trust
Aladdin / Genie	Almighty God
Tantrums	Not afraid to ask "Why?"
"You must do ..."  or  "I want ..."	"May I?"  or  "Would you?"
From where I pretend to be	From where I am

We closed out with a brain buster ... at least for me.  When Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and was praying (see Matthew 26:36ff, Mark 14:32ff, or Luke 22:39ff), He asked "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."  Actually, according to some of the accounts, Jesus asked this twice.  From my own learning and education, this was nothing new.  What blew my mind was a new concept.  First, Jesus exists Forever because He's God (John 10:30), He is chosen as the sacrificial ransom before creation (1 Peter 1:20), in and through Jesus all things are created (Colossians 1:16-17).  Second, Jesus knows all of this (He's God, He's the Lamb, He's the Creator) ... yet, He asks the Father if another way is possible - the answer is: NO!  There is NO other Way - Jesus is The Way, The Truth, The Life and no one comes to the Father, except through Him (John 14:6).  In other words, Jesus prayed to change something that He Himself had decided from before creation.  Even though Jesus knew the answer, He prayed for a different course to be taken.  BUT, always with the acknowledgement of the will of the Father.  We'll be digging into this more!!!

Propitious Prayer: Introduction

This season, Bible: Out Of The Box will be covering elements of "Propitious Prayer". In some cases, a prayer is offered without any thought - a string of words rolling off one's tongue without any power, or expectation of efficacy. When we look at a definition of propitious, it means "favorable conditions are present".

We will be tearing apart the Bible in the expedition of understanding what it says about prayer and our response in, through, and on the other side of prayer. We will be challenging our conventional thinking about prayer. I trust this time will end in us being more aligned with what is spoken in James 5:16 "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective".

Update: We started setting a foundation for this season's topic by emphasizing the scope of God's domain (see Trinity of Trinities diagram below) as based upon Romans 1:20.

Continuing by laying the next stone, we reviewed the Circle Of Relationship (CORe) concept.  This is where God has allowed us to see that His intentions for relationship - communion - were intimate, close, personal, constant.  Though we took a detour away from His ultimate desire, through Jesus Christ, He brought us back.  Now, we can draw near to God and He will draw near to us (Hebrews 7:19, 10:22).  Our communal conversations with God lend to this.

We discussed the point of being "child-like" in our response to God through Matthew 18:3-4, 19:14, Mark 10:14-15, and Luke 18:16-17.  We will continue our journey next week!!