Prayer OF my Daughter

The summer usually brings about the breaking of evening routines. Routines that I love, by they way, such as reading with my son and praying with my daughter. One of the common things my daughter says in her prayer (at least she did as of May)is, "please help my brother and me to get along better and not fight so much."

One would think that as a father, it does my heart good to hear this prayer and recognize that my daughter realizes God is her help and hope to become all that He wants her to be. This prayer warmed my heart for about two weeks. Then I recognized "it ain't happening..." the bickering, teasing, and annoying of one another continued at the same level and at times worsened.

This got me thinking about Ashton's prayer, her ever evolving theology, and how she might be interpreting the fact that there is seemingly no answer. The possibilities I considered are:
1. She believes God is not hearing her which could mean she believes God could be unfaithful.
2. She believes this whole idea of getting along with my annoying brother seems to be even out of the reach of God (which I sometimes find myself believing... ahem!).
3. She says to herself, "I say these words at night as a part of my routine prayer and never really think about it again until it is bedtime and time to pray."

Knowing that any one of those possibilities is... err... possible, and knowing that my son, too, had been known to pray this prayer, I decided to take advantage of a teachable moment. The next time they starting having a mild bicker (because a major one means "meltdown" and "I'm not listening!!") I reminded them how they have prayed this prayer and asked them why they think God hasn't done anything. They thought for a couple of seconds and shrugged. I explained that God was not going to magically place a heart of camaraderie in them, but that He is going to build this in them if they allow Him to do so. When you feel yourself wanting to retaliate and annoy, that is the opportunity to allow God to work. It will take time, it will take intentionality, you will not be perfect.

I wish I could tell you that they fell down, tore their clothes, sat in the ashes and grieved over their behavior and/or celebrated with great songs of praise at this new revelation of the goodness and faithfulness of God, but I can't. That's OK, with me. I trust that God will continue his work and I am well aware that there are still SEVERAL opportunities a day for this prayer to be answered. I believe it is happening.

This same kind of thinking is present in adults, too. It is seen in the frustrated couple who prays God will help them love their spouse again, yet continues in the same distant, dysfunctional interaction that does nothing but further estrange them. Or the person who prays for a new job and does nothing but wait for the phone to ring. We miss opportunities for God's work in us all the time. MY prayer is that I begin to recognize them more often in my life. God is faithful.

A Prayer for My Daughter

On April 2, my daughter turned 13. That's 13 YEARS old. I'm not handling it very well.

I understand that this is just the beginning of many years where my baby girl is less and less a baby and more and more a lady.

To top it all off, on May 16 she had her first "date." Well, it wasn't a date, date. She went to a banquet with a boy and afterwards she, he, and all her friends stayed for a dance at which I don't think they ever danced together. I can handle that, OK.

These adolescent years are so critical, and I know she will be faced with choices and situations that will have a hand in defining who she will be.

All this has me thinking more and more of the lady I want her to become. I want her to be a woman of deep faith and love for God that spills over into her love for people. With all the choices she is facing I want Christ to be her first consideration and final word. There will be mistakes and there will be hard times. It is in those she will come to understand and appreciate grace. It is going to be difficult for me to see her hurt with her first heart break and struggle with regret.

I want to be the hands, feet, arms, and ears of God to her through all this to demonstrate our Father's love and grace.

As I was waiting for our Sunday morning Bible Study to begin, I was reading through the first chapter of Phillipians and ran across a passage that immediately caused me to think of my daughter.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in
knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best
and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of
righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ -- to the glory and praise of
God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

Paul sums up what I have in my heart for my daughter as we enter into this phase of her life. I want her love of God to abound through her increased knowledge and understanding of Him so that He will provide her witih the ability to make Christ-centered choices and ultimately point others to the same God she is following and loving.

I still can't believe she is 13... years... that is...

God and MacGyver

I heard a guest on a radio show the other day who was supposed to be representing the Christian voice of politics. Only the tail-end of the appearance was heard, but the part that was heard included a statement to the effect of “I believe that if people pray, God can orchestrate the circumstances so that His candidate is elected.” It was probably intended to be an affirmation of God’s sovereignty despite insurmountable circumstances, or the power of prayer, but it just irritated me. We are giving way too much to ANY political party or politician who claims to have the endorsement of God. Most candidates, if asked, would probably tell you that they believe they could be God’s instrument to bring about change in this country or else they wouldn’t be running. What if there are prayer vigils held all around the country and the candidate that is “supposed to be” elected isn’t? What does that say of God or of his praying people? Was it “lack of faith”?

I believe in the awesome power, provision and protection of God (how’s that alliteration for all my preacher friends!?). I just envision in it in a different way. Which is more amazing… orchestrating circumstances so that a specific person is elected, or still achieving your purposes despite whoever is in the Whitehouse? My vote is for the latter. There is more evidence both historically and biblically that suggests God’s work despite flawed leadership. It’s kind of like how amazed we could be with MacGyver who could pull off an escape with just a Swiss army knife, chewing gum, and a piece of string. My God is too amazing and too powerful to need any one person in charge other than Himself.