Why do so many church lessons about the power of prayer always have to follow this format: Either the man upstairs magisterially — like a genie — grants your frantic plea for personal safety or personal betterment, or he prompts you, with a warm fuzzy feeling, to check on somebody or something, or pull over on the highway, etc., thereby sparing you or a loved one(s) an unfortunate accident or death.
Why can’t the power of prayer be defined as a tool that allows you to offer to God your gratitude for just being on earth, and having prayer as a component — along with Scripture study and following the Golden Rule, etc. — that helps make you a better person? Why does its power have to be attached with “believe-it-or-not” testimonials that would sound cheesy even on a late-night infomercial?
Read Full Article »