The disciples asked Jesus, “Teach us to pray,” but was that what they really wanted? To learn how to pray? Or was their request really for Him to teach them to listen?
What if what we call the “Lord’s prayer” or the “Our Father” isn’t just an outline for how we “should pray” or the format for the “perfect theological prayer” but the kindness of God showing us how to reach Him? And a way to show others how to reach Him?
A while back, I read a Sports Illustrated piece about Lauren Holiday, one of the members of the World Cup winning US Women’s soccer team. It was called Going Out on Top. She surprised most everyone by announcing her retirement at the age of 27. Why? In a wonderful article by Jeff Kassouf, Holiday explains:
“I’ve been praying about it for a couple years now and really just this last year, it was so clear to me,” she said. “I had so much clarity about it. I knew that I wanted to give my all to the World Cup. I wanted to be able to say that I gave it my all to fulfill the final dream of winning the World Cup and I feel like I did that. Even if we wouldn’t have won, I felt very comfortable in my decision. I feel like God had led me to that decision, so I was ready either way.”
Can you imagine listening to God in the midst of the physical, mental and emotional grind of World Cup preparation? Amid all of the media, the teammates, the fans, and the coaches all yelling, to listen deeply? I imagine there were many voices, including the one tempting comfort, “You’re retiring soon, don’t worry about it. Just take it easy.”
Can you imagine listening for the Almighty in the midst of life these days, cacophony that it is? The shouting, the tugging, the posturing. The claims, the clamor, the clowns. Yeah, I needn’t go on. You know. The noise is deafening.
I love that Lauren was “ready either way” on the biggest stage of her life. To play was Glory, outcome optional.
Can I be so bold? Give it all up to God, not just in the BIG decisions, life-changing moments, and huge round-abouts, but also in the small stuff, the daily moments, the slight course-corrections? Do I offer the Lord, His prayer? Do I listen under the words?
How incredibly powerful is that on-going conversation we are engaged in about how to lead a life. God doesn’t insist that we trust and obey, only that we listen and pray. And there, perhaps, we hear not just the voice of reason but the Voice of Life itself.
Oh Loving God, how kind you are to give us more than we ask, by offering all that we need.
For more ways to connect with God through prayer and listening, I hope you’ll check out, Made to Move: Knowing and Loving God through Our Bodies.