Prayer that touches God

Emotion is a powerful tool … when tears flow, my compassion is being stirred. That was how I felt when I heard a visitor who came to join us in cell group fellowship last Friday.

She has an autism son who is now 28 years old. She shared of her struggles and rejection by people because of her son all these years. Tears rolled as she shared her ordeal. I believe this is her cross that the LORD has given to her to carry. Once, her son was sick so badly that he went into the Intensive Care Unit. She talked about the prayer she made when her son was lying there. “Jesus was never sick, never had flu. As Jesus was, so are you.” And for that, she claim God’s healing. True enough, the doctor called her that night that her son can be out of ICU. From her many sharing, I knew that most of them are not theologically right. For example, she said that she lay hand on her husband’s car that it will never meet an accident and no parking summon will be on the car.

That night, as I walked out of the cell meeting, I asked the LORD two questions: (1) “LORD, are we to be like you in all aspect of life?” Then within me I feel that He is saying, “No.”  Jesus is single, I am married and that is OK. Jesus is circumcised, I am not. And that is OK. Jesus is divine, I am human. And it is OK.

OK, if we understand the Bible wrongly, then my second Question is: “When we pray wrongly (because we understand the Bible wrongly), do we still get our prayer granted?”  Again, I heard Him said, “Yes!” A deeply hurt, weeping prayer always touches MY heart! (not the words of the prayer).

Then I began to understand. I believe God looks more at the pain in our hearts and the tears in our eyes than the words in our mouth when we pray, even if our prayers are theologically wrong.

As I ponder over this, 2 persons in the Bible came to mind:

Hannah was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. (1Sam 1:10) Her tears moved God to act and granted her a miracle child – Prophet Samuel.

King Hezekiah was at a point of death that he wept before the LORD. Even the prophet Isaiah told him to prepare for his death.

2King 20:3 “Remember, Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

2King 22:19 Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the Lord when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people—that they would become a curse and be laid waste—and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I also have heard you, declares the Lord.

A compassionate and humble heart is more pleasing to the LORD than a good Bible knowledge. Beware: A good theological knowledge can be a stumbling block to drawing close to God. Also, it can swell the head but not humble the heart.

What then does God requires of me, just an ordinary man, I mused. This I believe is what God wants of me:

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.  (Micah 6:8)

And when I act justly, love mercy, walk humbly (and not sacrifice Micah 6:6,7)); then I know God is with me in everything I do or ask.

Agape