Summoned to Prayer

The song The Summons by John Bell includes a curious line, in which Christ says to us, “Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?”

What does it mean to let Christ answer prayer in us? We wouldn’t be praying if we didn’t want an answer, right? Actually, we sometimes face numerous impediments in allowing Christ to answer prayer in us:

• We might be so impatient for an answer that we cease listening if we don’t get an immediate response. We typically want an answer on our timeline, not on God’s timeline.

• We may feel so unworthy of God’s attention that we can’t even bring ourselves to pray.

• Our lack of hope and trust may prevent us from believing that God will respond to our prayer.

• We might not be open to hearing any answer to our prayer except the one we want to hear.

Bell’s song also asks us to consider whether we are willing to answer Christ’s prayer. Prayer was integral to Jesus’ life, so it stands to reason that he continues to pray in his resurrected form. If Christ prays for us — that we can overcome our addictions, that we can stop worrying, that we can forgive those who hurt us — will we answer that prayer through openness to Christ’s transforming love? If Christ prays for the suffering people of the world, will we answer that prayer by reaching out to those who need our help?

Prayer isn’t a form of magical wish fulfillment; rather, it is the communication that flows from being in a relationship with God. As in any relationship, keeping the channels of communication open requires a commitment of time, trust, honesty, and patience. Christ asks each of us with true vulnerability, “Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?” Our response will shape how the remainder of our life unfolds.

Imagine That

The song “Pure Imagination” from the movie Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory includes lyrics that might well have been spoken by God:

There is no life I know
To compare with pure imagination
Living there, you'll be free
If you truly wish to be

We tend to view dreamers as being impractical and unrealistic and dismiss their dreams as being illogical, unattainable, and laughable. Even God, the Supreme Dreamer, has encountered these reactions. Sarah laughed in disbelief when an angel foretold that she would bear a son at an advanced age. Moses doubted that God could produce water from a rock in the desert. The religious leaders in Jesus’ time scoffed at the notion that God would raise Jesus from the dead. They all clearly underestimated the power of the dreams of the One for whom nothing is impossible.

What about us? The prophet Isaiah tells us that God envisions us living in a land of peace, healing, and abundance, where people set down their weapons, the deaf hear, the blind see, prisoners are freed, and strangers are welcomed. Do we believe that this dream of God is possible? Do we truly wish to be free, or have we decided that it’s not worth the sacrifices required to cooperate with God’s plans and help make them a reality?

It's the beginning of a new year — a prime time for dreaming. All around us, scientists are working on medical breakthroughs, communities are welcoming refugees, children are being taught conflict resolution skills, and inventors are finding ways to grow drought-resistant crops and clean up our oceans. What do you dare envision with your pure, God-given imagination? Can you free yourself from doubt and cynicism and set about making your dream a part of the blessing that God envisions for all of us?