October 20, 2008 Praying the Word

There’s a scene in the movie “When Harry Met Sally” in which Harry brings his friend, a writer, to meet Sally—who has brought her friend to meet Harry. Sally’s friend quotes something she read in an article. “Get out!” Harry’s friend exclaims (and I’m paraphrasing here). “I wrote that! I’ve never ever had someone quote me before.”

“And I’ve never quoted anyone in a conversation!” she says. This is Hollywood, so the audience knows right away that they will bond, be soul mates, and live happily ever after.

It’s true, though, that writers love to hear the words they’ve written, in much the same way that an architect would enjoy overhearing someone comment on the beautiful lines of a building she designed, or a composer would be blessed by hearing someone humming his own song as they passed on a street.

We call the Bible “God’s Word” and although he used human hands to put pen to paper, I believe that God enjoys—as the true author—hearing his words spoken back to him. Not only is he blessed when we read his word as it appears on the page, however, but also as we use those words in prayer and praise to him.

Many of the Psalms are written directly to God, and make it very easy for us to pray them back, such as Psalm 4:1: Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer.” That’s exactly the cry of our hearts at times, isn’t it? “Are you listening to me, Lord? Answer me when I call! I need help!”

Ephesians is a great book filled with passages that can easily and affectively be turned into prayer of worship. Where I have changed a word to make it personal, I’ve put the change in parentheses. From chapter 1: “Praise be to the God and Father of (my) Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed (me) in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ(You) chose (me) in (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in (your) sight. In love (you) predestined (me) to be adopted as (your daughter) through Jesus Christ, in accordance with (your) pleasure and will— to the praise of (your) glorious grace, which (you have) freely given (me) in the One he loves. In (you, I) have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that (you lavish on me) with all wisdom and understanding. (I ask that you make known to me) the mystery of (your) will according to (your) good pleasure, which (you) purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment—to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.”

“(Thank you that I have been chosen) having been predestined according (your plan, as you work) out everything in conformity with the purpose of (your) will, in order that (I)… might be for the praise of (your) glory.”

Is there someone on our hearts in needs of the Lord’s touch? We can pray the word for them too: (Ephesians 1:17 and following) “I (ask you), the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, (to give- and here, insert the person’s name) the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that (she would know you) better. I pray also that the eyes of (her) heart may be enlightened in order that (she) may know the hope to which (you have) called (her), the riches of (your) glorious inheritance in the saints, and (your) incomparably great power for (all of us) who believe. “

Sometimes we have such deep longings for prayer, but the words escape us. We lack the vocabulary, or our minds are so heavy with distress or distraction that we can hardly think. It is a comfort to know that the word of God is there, filled with promised and exhortations, yes, but also with the very prayers we can pray in time of need.