Are My Prayers Lazy?

I didn’t get the cure that I wanted, the cure for my debilitating disease, for which I and countless others prayed. Why not? Didn’t Jesus say that all we ask for in His name would be given to us?

Sometimes, it seems like God doesn’t answer our prayers. But every prayer is answered by God. “No” is an answer, so is “not yet.” God may respond to us with “be careful what you wish for,” because, although we may think something is best for us or someone we love, God the Author of Life knows better. Patience is required of us, yes, but mostly trust in divine perspective. The reconciliation of my life with Christ’s words is something that I explore in my first book, It’s Good to Be Here, because I know that people have turned away from God when they didn’t get what they prayed for in the name of Jesus.

Now, as a person of faith witnessing the racial injustice and lethal disrespect for human life in our world, as well as the divisiveness and malice among professed Christians on social media, I am again praying for what seems like a miracle in the name of Jesus, through His Sacred Heart. I’m praying for all Christians, in words and deeds, to give true, humble witness to God’s love for human life in every stage, appearance, ability, age, and walk of life. But I ask myself … are my prayers genuine? Or are they lazy? Am I so patient and complacent in my trust in God’s almighty power that I don’t do my part?

“Jesus” isn’t a magic word like “abracadabra” said in order to make something happen. He is a way of life — THE Way of Life. Praying in the name of Jesus means living as Jesus lives: in loving sacrifice. Every prayer of Jesus culminates in His pierced Heart upon the Cross.

Prayer and sacrifice are one. Without prayer, a sacrifice is not a sacrifice, not a loving offering, but just a loss. Without sacrifice, a prayer is empty noise, not a sincere longing and giving of the heart.

As I pray for the softening of hardened hearts through the loving, humble witness of Christians, I ask God to help me do what I find difficult, even painful at times: swallow my pride. May I bite my tongue instead of getting the last word, snapping out at someone, or putting another person down, and offer this tiny self-sacrifice in union with the self-giving prayer of Christ’s loving heart.

Lord, have mercy… Make me new, make me like You! When I pray for someone in need, help me to go beyond my comfort zone to take whatever action I can to help that person, or someone nearby, sacrificing time, putting aside what I’d rather do in order to do something trying for the sake of the other. May I push my tired body a little further to be of quiet assistance, and whenever I need to stop the enjoyable thing that I’m doing for the sake of my health or someone else’s need, may I do so willingly as a sacrifice to soothe Your wounded Heart.

Allow my sweat and tears to weep through Your Sacred Heart, oh Jesus, as I offer my love to You and with You, so the hardened hearts of humankind will more richly soften in the Blood of Your self-giving love. 

Amen.

© 2020 Christina Chase

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In the summer of 2020, I’m praying to the Sacred Heart of Jesus that God’s love for every human being — in every stage of development, appearance, age, disposition, ability, and walk of life — will be upheld on social media through the humility and loving respect of true Christian witness. This series of posts begins with Cut to the Heart.

“Jesus” isn’t a magic word like “abracadabra” said in order to make something happen. He is a way of life — THE Way of Life. Praying in the name of Jesus means living as Jesus lives: in loving sacrifice. Every prayer of Jesus culminates in His pierced Heart upon the Cross.

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Feature Photo by Matt Botsford on Unsplash