Immense power...

Looking at Luke 11 in Good Morning Girls, we start with the Lord's Prayer. 

I've been listening to a great series of talks on the Lord's prayer by Louie Giglio: this is the second one in a series entitled 'Shift', February 24th'. Louis points out that the prayer is not so much as to tell us WHAT to pray for, but HOW to pray. Coming up close and personal is the first thing, coming to our father - a bit like saying, 'Dad, what are you/we doing today?' Can we 'rewrite' the prayer as a child greeting her parent first thing in the morning? A daughter coming into the kitchen where her father is preparing breakfast?

I posted this reflection on facebook, inadvertently on the Good Morning Girls page rather than in our little Guernsey Girls group. Immediately below my post, Whitney at Good Morning Girls comments: "I love how these verses reflect a right relationship with God. What a powerful reminder to remember WHO I am speaking to when I pray!! We are to recognize and honor Who He is, trust in His daily provision and forgiveness, and persist in our dependence on Him. He longs to provide for us (wow, more than I long to give to my own children?!?! That's hard to fathom - I am so undeserving!!). Father, help me to daily seek you, knowing that all that I need comes from You. God, grow my relationship with You so that it is Your presence that I long for more than anything else you can provide!"

And I wonder - because Whitney is one of the authors of Good Morning Girls, an expert, a leader, one who 'must be right' - I wonder, am I wrong? Did she write this comment to 'put me right' to stop me leading others into error? Or are we both right?

Perhaps we are. Perhaps I do not know HOW to pray if I do not realise WHO I am praying to. Perhaps this is why Ephesians 3:20 has just jumped out at me:

Ephesians 3:20  "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

The Message says: "God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us."

So my prayer is to KNOW WHO I AM PRAYING TO. To realise this is the God of the universe, the Almighty, who can transform Himself into a seemingly insignificant speck of humanity. A young man named Jesus who says: call the Almighty One, that one who created the earth and makes the mountains tremble at the sound of his name:
"God is the best, High King over all the gods.
In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns,
in the other hand grasps the high mountains." Psalm 95:3 - 5, The Message

He made Ocean—he owns it!
His hands sculpted Earth!""Earth wobbles and lurches; huge mountains shake like leaves,
Quake like aspen leaves
because of his rage.
His nostrils flare, bellowing smoke;
his mouth spits fire.
Tongues of fire dart in and out;
he lowers the sky.
He steps down;
under his feet an abyss opens up.
He’s riding a winged creature,
swift on wind-wings.
Now he’s wrapped himself
in a trenchcoat of black-cloud darkness.
But his cloud-brightness bursts through,
spraying hailstones and fireballs.
Then God thundered out of heaven;
the High God gave a great shout,
spraying hailstones and fireballs.
God shoots his arrows—pandemonium!
He hurls his lightnings—a rout!
The secret sources of ocean are exposed,
the hidden depths of earth lie uncovered
The moment you roar in protest,
let loose your hurricane anger." The Message, Psalm 18

So how would I 'rewrite' the Lord's prayer, if I was a small child?

Perhaps like this:

"Hi Dad, I found you! I thought you'd be here in your study. Are you busy?

What are you doing today? 

I know you have loads of really important things to do. Your plans always seem to work out 'cause you try so hard to fix things for us.

(Are you going to save the world today? Fight dragons, defeat monsters and get rid of all the baddies?)

Can I hang out with you and watch you? I'll do whatever you like just as long as I can be with you. It would be cool to see you at work. (I'm up for a drive in the car, too, if you have plans to go out.)

Can we go for pizza? Or ice cream? I'm quite hungry... oh, no, I haven't had breakfast yet. Yes, please, toast and marmelade would be good.

And I'm sorry I kicked up a fuss about going to bed last night. I was in a bad mood with that brother of mine, but I'm over it now. (Did you know he broke my ipod?  He was way out of order but it's OK.)

So can I come with you? I promise I'll be good...as long as you help me. 

Dad I know you go to some places that aren't so safe. But I'm not scared. I know you'll look after me.

'Cause you can do ANYTHING! You are the best and the strongest and the safest dad ever and I love you loads and loads and loads.

Wow, Dad, now I think about it - you're absolutely AWESOME! Thanks for being such a great Dad!"

Perhaps, if I 'hang out' with God, if I open my eyes and ears and heart to see and hear my heavenly father, I'll be able to catch a glimpse of what he is doing and 'help'. 

Like a five year old, a fifteen year old or a fifty year old.

Whatever age I am, I'm his daughter and he longs to have me alongside him.

Wow.

This is how Lisa 'hangs out': by listening...
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