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Pastor Penny's Pondering

Summer, 2010

 

²³ Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. ²⁴ He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me. ²⁵ "All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. ²⁸ "You heard me say, 'I am going away and I am coming back to you.' If you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. ²⁹ I have told you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe. ³⁰ I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold on me, ³¹ but the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me. "Come now; let us leave... John 14:23-31 NIV

In the middle of the Gospel of John Jesus prays. This may not sound extra ordinary but WHAT He was praying and for WHO is. Jesus is close to His arrest when He stops to pray. Jesus' prayer is not for Himself, it is for us.

Take a moment and read the text above again. At a point of high stress and agony Jesus takes the time to think about us, you and me. He prays for us to have peace and comfort. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you. There is no greater gift, and we are given this peace while Jesus faces His own death. Even on the cross Jesus takes time to think about you and me, the whole world; Father forgive them. This is really a prayer as well, isn't it?

We believe in the power of prayer, don't we? We believe that God, Jesus, is interested in our lives. We believe that we share our lives with Jesus through prayer, right? How many prayers are for yourself? How many start with Jesus, help me? How many focus on your needs or struggles? How many of us at Peace pray the names we receive on our Prayer Pages every Sunday? It is often in my hours of prayer that I am reminded it is not about ME or you or Peace. It is about Jesus. It is about how the great comforter is acting in your life and mine. It is about how we live and interpret ²⁶ But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

How are we living out this gift. We share our faith. We pray. We seek to comfort and understand others. We talk and share with them out of compassion and love. We stop and listen to what they are saying and not assume we know what is going on in their lives. But most importantly we continue the prayer of guidance and comfort Jesus started.

With prayer, the Holy Spirit and compassion we share the power and ability to bring about transformation. It is through prayer that we are transformed in the messengers, the Disciples of Christ, His brothers and sisters. Our faith is about transforming. Our faith is about Christ transforming us. Our faith is about how we live and share the transforming love and forgiveness we have in Christ. We can only do this when we live a prayerful life. When we live every moment in prayer.

Over Lent we were encouraged to add to our lives those things that transform our lives into a deeper relationship with our Savior. Why not continue this through the summer? How about all your life?

It is in prayer that we hear the whisper of the Holy Spirit. It is in prayer where we see the way the Spirit is guiding us. It is in prayer were we are reminded of the transforming presence of the Holy Spirit.

Join me in a prayer campaign. Join me in the transforming love of our Savior spoken through, in, with and around our prayer life. Live this summer in prayer!