Prayer: Under Construction

Greetings Brothers and Sisters in Christ at Pax Pres, and to all people,

As I write this, the staff of Pax - together with the help of so many - are finally moving back into our expanded office space that’s been under construction since last summer. More will be said to celebrate this milestone in worship soon ... for today, the Pax office move has me thinking more on a discipleship and prayer level.

Physical construction and move-ins are great images to remind us that, personally, we are each always “under construction” until Christ comes again to consummate a new heaven and new earth. I certainly need to pray toward this end; join me in prayer.

Humbly in Christ,
Pastor Matt

Almighty God, so often I pray because I’m looking for You to change something about my situation or circumstances. “Make this difficult person less difficult.” “Make this decision easier.” Or as I move back into my office, something as simple - yet frustrating! - as “Make this bolt loosen on this table leg!” God, so often “Argh - fix it” seems to be my prayer.

And yet, God, the apostle Paul is such a model of faithful prayer. Why, Lord, don’t my prayers sound more like this?

“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 for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Phil. 1:10-11)

“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.” (Col 1:10-12)

God, I give thanks that You’re such a loving Father that You incline Your ear to me and to us no matter how messy or mis-ordered our prayers are. But, Holy Spirit, only You can reshape my prayer to be more like those of Paul. Next time I have a difficult conversation, a seemingly unfixable problem, an inconvenient truth come my way, help me respond in ways that bear fruit in every good work. Grow me in my knowledge of You especially through the people, stuff, and situations that most challenge me. I confess, God, that so often I want more love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in my life; but I don’t want the painful construction process it takes to get there. God, make me ready for the works of demolition and remodel You want to do in me in the middle of any given day.

Father, if You are indeed the one who saved me by your grace and began a good work in me in Christ Jesus, then I appeal to You to be the one who brings that good work to completion in the day of Christ Jesus - and every day until then! I pray this for myself and for everyone I interact with. Help us see our personal problems and collective problems less through the lens of “What are You doing to fix it, God?,” and more through the lens of “What are You doing to grow me, God?” You know me, God: on my own, this is not how I pray. So Spirit, change this in me. I am always Yours - always under the loving construction of Your Holy Spirit to be conformed more and more to the image of Christ. I pray all this in His name. Amen.