Christian Magic Words and Co-Dependency

Hocus Pocus, or Abracadabra, or some other nonsense are common references to “magic words”.  It seems that in my history with my Master I have some of my own.  They usually cap off my prayers with, “…in Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.”  It may not be obvious, but two sets were just used.

The first set of Christian “magic words” is the more obvious, “…in Jesus’ name I pray” phrase.  I picked this up from vocal prayers I heard in church growing up.  But I can’t really blame my upbringing, because when I did learn that they were not “magic words” I still continued to throw them into my prayers, so I am without excuse.  I picked up a habit, which I still practice, now for more co-dependent reasons.

The second, less obvious set is, “amen”, which is the vocal punctuation in church for ending prayers.  At least it is now, which is sad.  Again, this is more habit, and a co-dependent one as well.  If I don’t end with that, other believers get upset with me that I didn’t “signal” them I was done praying.

What I have arrived at in my current walk with my Master are three very effective ways to irritate other believers with whom I may pray audibly.  First, I can begin by praying to the Holy Spirit.  I have no idea why that irritates people but it does.  No one has given me an adequate explanation either, they’re just uncomfortable with it.  The second is to skip the whole, “…in Jesus’ name I pray,” phrase, which is forgivable, except when coupled with the third irritant, skipping, “amen” at the end.

With these three irritants present in the same prayer, I can test the spiritual waters in a Bible study, church group, or even a single believer.  But that would mean their presence (or absence) were just a ridiculous as their inclusion in a prayer.  Prayer is not a tool used to test spiritual waters, like some sort of litmus paper or dipstick.  Instead, it is personal communication with the Creator of the Universe.  Any other use is profane.

So that brings me to Chambers’ point about what is prayer supposed to be.  Returning to John 16, this time verses 26 and 27, he points to the phrases Jesus uses to lead into the prayer of Chapter 17, where He prays that we may be one with the Father as He is.  The point Chambers makes is that, when we are one with the Father, we will pray with the “nature” of Jesus, thus praying in His name without saying those words.  I suppose that is one way to look at it.  And I don’t want to say he’s wrong, because I don’t really know if he is or not.  He’s probably right, especially considering the context with John 17.  I just want to put a simpler frame on it.

I believe that praying in the name of Jesus resonated with the disciples with whom Jesus spoke.  I believe that the term had meaning in their day we miss in ours, because we have lost the whole “monarchy” or “imperial” governmental structures in our day.  In their day, to speak in someone’s name meant to speak with the authority and the words given by another, more powerful, person.  So, when a soldier spoke in the name of his commander, he spoke with authority above his rank.  But he also spoke what he was told to say by his commander. 

I believe this is the meaning the disciples understood, although they may not have had a clear understanding of how it applied to them asking of the Father.  I can assure you that they did not consider the phrase to be “magic words” ensuring they got whatever they wanted.  Their understanding would also have included the clearly understood punishment if the soldier spoke something other than what his commander commanded.  The disciples would have been left with the conundrum of asking only after Jesus had revealed what He wanted them to ask for.  It’s as if the process was reversed; instead of them asking through Jesus to the Father, Jesus asks through them to the Father…sort of.

What this means for me is that prayer, whether personal or public, needs to be communication with the Master of the Universe, not a show, or a rote connection of phrases.  I know that my Master wants things for me.  Those are the things for which I ask the Father, knowing I have whatever it is, because I ask for what the Son wants already.  It sounds redundant, and it is.  But it involves me intimately in the process of my sanctification (making me set apart for service to my King).

So, today, this day of public worship, I will speak to my Father in Heaven, asking only for what my Master wants for me; nothing more.  I will do so with the phrase, “…in Jesus’ name I pray” being true without being said.  I will do so with the declared, “amen” missing on my lips, but present in my heart.  I may even speak to the Spirit of the Living God as well, since He lives within me, interprets for me, and moves me into prayer in the first place.  If that bothers you…

Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": May 29th.

Not Asking But Knowing With Certainty–A New Type Of Prayer For Me

I like today’s entry.  It gets at the heart of where my current struggle lies.  The verse is John 16:23 where Jesus is telling His disciples about their life after He ascends.  What He says is that, in that day (after He ascends), they will not ask anything of Him, rather whatever they ask of the Father will be done for them.  He is getting at the access to the Father, which at that time went through Him, but after Him, will pass direct.  As Chambers’ points out, they will be one with the Father as Jesus is.  As I have pointed out before, this idea is overwhelming for me.

But right now, I struggle with how to pray.  I know that my Master has provision for employment all sewed up, even if I don’t see it.  That’s easy to say, but hard to let go of so I can have peace.  I need to revisit that occasionally to regain that peace.  I know that my Master has provision for where we shall live, even if I don’t see it yet.  Again, easier to say than to live out, and I revisit that one too.

But harder is that my in-laws are looking for a home on our behalf, and I fear that they may be becoming frustrated with the process.  I don’t want that.  We are making this move precisely to alleviate them of stress, and I don’t want to pile on something else in the process.  Secondly, I know that my Master has it covered, possibly through them, but not necessarily.  So, I want them to rely on our reliance upon my Master.  That’s co-dependent.  I may want them to do that, but I can’t stress over it.  What I can do is pray for them.  I can pray that my Master provide them the peace He has provided us; that He make clear to them through us that His provision is supreme, not their purchase power.

I am also concerned that the wheels of industry where I work will not rotate fast enough to decide on allowing me to work remotely before I leave.  Or that they will rush it, throwing something together that will not work well.  But these details are out of my control, and not my problem.  It is my Master’s problem to provide for these details.  While people may be under the impression they control, I know it is my Master really controlling the details, ones they cannot see, and may not be able to imagine.

So, my focus needs to be drawing closer to my Master, worshipping Him, walking before Him, being available to His will.  He loves me, He has my back, what is there to worry about, or what should distract me from what I have to focus on?  Romans 8 ends with this challenge, that since the Father judges, the Son justifies, and has paid the requirements of justice, who can bring a charge against me?  What have I to fear?  Nothing can separate me from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus my Master.  What else matters?

So, in this day, I do not ask my Master for anything.  But whatever I ask in His name (as in on His behalf) I know I have it.  So I ask for the peace and glory of my Master to be revealed to my in-laws.  I ask that in the name of my Master.  And I have whatever I ask.  Now, if they will just see what is being revealed to them.  But that is not my problem to worry about.

Oswald Chambers' "My Utmost For His Highest": May 28th.