If you’ve been following my blog for a while you are well aware that I am continually trying to make sense out of prayer, especially intercessory prayer. Here’s my latest. What if we just ask God to bless the people we’re praying for, and leave it at that? Sounds simple doesn’t it? But I think that’s how God wants it to be. For one thing, asking God to bless eliminates all those judgments that are mine, not God’s.
And, besides, who am I to decide what is best for someone else? I don’t mean to refute the general agreement out in the world about some kinds of behavior. Case in point, consuming excessive alcohol. At the moment I have someone on my prayer list for just that. I’m mighty tempted to pray that he stop drinking, but I did that once and the person sure did stop--she died in an alcohol related accident. I never felt responsible for what happened, but it did bring me up short and get me thinking about the ways that I meddle, all in the guise of ‘doing good’.
This simple prayer of asking God to bless people feels very freeing for everyone involved. It adds no human complications, and yet, it allows human beings like you and me to participate in ‘Thy will be done.’
And, besides, who am I to decide what is best for someone else? I don’t mean to refute the general agreement out in the world about some kinds of behavior. Case in point, consuming excessive alcohol. At the moment I have someone on my prayer list for just that. I’m mighty tempted to pray that he stop drinking, but I did that once and the person sure did stop--she died in an alcohol related accident. I never felt responsible for what happened, but it did bring me up short and get me thinking about the ways that I meddle, all in the guise of ‘doing good’.
This simple prayer of asking God to bless people feels very freeing for everyone involved. It adds no human complications, and yet, it allows human beings like you and me to participate in ‘Thy will be done.’
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