Liberating the Leader's Prayer Life

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Cartoon in Punch of a man praying at bedside saying: "Is there some way you could help me, but make it look like I did it all myself?"

Note in the "Personals" section of the Chicago Tribune: "Thanks to God and Jesus Christ for prayers answered. K.W.G." 1

Prayer of the Selfish Child
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
And if I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my toys to break
So none of the other kids can use 'em …
Amen.
Shel Silverstein
2

An old man wistfully reads the Hebrew Scripture's promise of a Messiah to come. Night after night he reads until the light or his energy wanes. Each night he prays, O, that I could see the Messiah before I die!

Silence is his only answer. Still he prays.

Then one night he prays and, instead of silence, God answers: I have heard your prayer. You shall see the Promised One.

Not sure he has heard correctly, the old man continues his yearning prayer on the nights that follow—yet the answer grows stronger, more firm. You shall see him. You shall hold him and touch the Messiah.

Simeon's joy was great. He was probably already an old man when God told him he would not die until he had seen the Messiah. The promised coming of the Savior was ancient, and few really believed it any more. For a man of Simeon's age, it was too much to hope for. Yet God said it would happen—and the promised day did come.

In the temple Simeon took the baby Jesus in his arms and said, "Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people."

Simeon's experience in the second chapter of Luke is the paradigm of true thanksgiving. What better reason for giving thanks to God than the fact that we ...

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