Who do you pray to?
I’m not sure who needs to hear this, but here goes.
Sometimes when I’ve “prayed”, I wonder if I’ve just been talking to myself. There is a subtle but significant difference between truly engaging with another person and merely talking, complaining, or chatting.
Liturgy, Ritual, and the Real Thing
Liturgy and ritual are deeply comforting to the human soul, and we seem to be wired for them — for good reason. Traditions like these remind us of the holiness of God, of the goodness of his character, of the power of his grace, and the majesty of his creation. They bring glory to God by reflecting him in unique ways. The church’s modern liturgies, buildings, accoutrements, traditions and iconography are, I think, akin to the tabernacle: they create a microcosmic Eden; a place to house the Most Holy Place.
But when we sit down to pray, or enter a place of worship, what are we actually aiming for?
What Makes the Holy Place Holy?
What makes the Holy Place holy? And what is the point of approaching the temple? (See Matt 23:17)
It’s God Most High! And the God of the Bible is not an abstraction. He is personal.
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you — I am he.” — John 4:20–26
Person to Person
So when we sit down to pray, go to church, or engage in any spiritual discipline — we must never forget who we are approaching.
We’re not just talking into the air, or merely to ourselves. We are called, in light of the gospel of Christ and fellowship of the Holy Spirit, to engage — person to person — with the God of the universe. He wants a relationship with you.
Are You Still Hiding?
The centre of the sin narrative chiasm in Genesis 3:1–14 is when Adam and Eve hide from God! It’s not taking the fruit, or desiring wisdom, or being cursed — it’s the act of hiding. Are you still hiding while you’re praying?
Arguably, the purpose of life is to know and be known by God. And our relationship with God is mediated through Jesus! Hallelujah!
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” — 1 Timothy 2:5
”I Never Knew You”
When Jesus pronounces judgment on people who do not do the will of God, even as they “do all the things”, the proclamation is that “I never knew you”:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” — Matthew 7:21–23
Bring Your True Self
So I encourage you today: bring your true self — your heart and soul — to God. When you worship, worship in spirit and truth; when you pray, seek genuine connection; as you work out life and faith with fear and trembling, seek genuine relationship:
“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” — Hebrews 4:16