I remember an acquaintance of ours once saying “So-and-so fell out of the stupid tree and hit every branch on the way down.”
Some days I think he might say that about me.
Today I was driving home from the grocery store and all of a sudden I realized that I was praying that something would “happen” so that the couple who booked the wedding photographer that Maggie and Austin want would…you know…cancel.
Now, I didn’t pray that the couple who booked him would be struck dead or break up or anything. But still, it was kind of like I was asking the godfather to “fix” a basketball game or something.
And then I shook myself as I turned the corner at the stoplight and thought “I’m a terrible human being! That’s such a stupid prayer! I should be praying for Obama, Africa, or global warming.”
Do you think “stupid” is a word in God’s vocabulary? Is there such a thing as a “stupid prayer”?
I started thinking of all the prayers in the Bible…hem grasping, pregnancy processing, roof-crashing prayers. For revenge and thirst-quenching and sun-stopping and rain…
Like a papa of toddlers God seems to delight in all of it.
“Come to Me. Come to Me. Come to Me.”
Like, “Jump into My arms. Bring it on. All of it.”
Prayer seems to be more about a relationship than right rhetoric.
I just can’t imagine Jesus saying “That’s stupid.” He might say, “Do you know what it is that you’re asking for?”, but still…
Philippians 4:6 says “Don’t worry about anything. Instead pray about everything.” What part of “everything” is stupid?
The other afternoon one of my daughters called me. We chattered. Back and forth. It was the highlight of my day. It always is.
We didn’t talk about Obama or Africa, or global warming but it also wasn’t stupid. I was just glad she wanted to talk. Like I think God is glad when we want to talk. About anything.
Been there / done that ….. Prayed those desperation – “can’t it go my way, Lord?” prayers. Yup! Seems to happen most when I pray for my kids …. desiring so deeply that everything will go well for them and all the details in their lives. Wedding planning is certainly one of those areas – wanting it to BE PERFECT!! So, Laura, your recent prayer is a natural reaction of a loving, caring Mom! Of course you hope all of the plans for Maggie’s wedding day can fall into place easily – including her choice of a photographer. Not a stupid prayer – in my opinion. What I have learned and try to practice is to ask the Lord, then what? To seek His advice in each challenge. “If this photographer isn’t the one – it can’t work out for that date – then what do you have in mind Lord for the answer to our dilemma? Lead us to the right answer.” He does. He will. And it will all work out great!! “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” I Peter 5:7
Great “next prayer” – “then what”? Thanks Betty!