Question: When an aggravation pops up during your day, is your “go-to” response to pray about it? Maybe you got an upsetting email or message from a friend, maybe your boss assigned a task that you’re not happy with, or maybe your spouse/preacher/teacher/parent/child made a comment that rubbed you the wrong way. What’s the first thing that you do?
I’d love to tell you that my first response is always to pray, but that wouldn’t be truthful. Honestly, my usual reaction when I’m aggravated is to complain to someone with a sympathetic ear. (Yes, I know that Jesus always has a sympathetic ear, but I’ve already sadly admitted that He’s not always my first call.)
Now that we’ve entered the Lenten season, this is a particular problem for me, because for Lent, I’ve given up complaining and griping. Correction. For Lent, I’m attempting to give up complaining and griping. It’s a daily battle. Honestly, it’s an hourly battle.
In Philippians 4:6, Paul advises us, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done.” That’s the New Living Translation. The Teresa Ford Translation, as of today, is, “Don’t worry, gripe, or complain about anything. Instead, pray about everything.”
Even so, how can we always remember to pray first? How do we make prayer our go-to response? For me, it’s going to take practice. Practice may not make perfect, but practice will get me closer to my goal.
I’m a tactile and visual and learner, so I need reminders that I can touch and see. At our church (New Life Methodist), there’s always a basket of “palm crosses” in the worship space, and we’re each encouraged to carry one with us. I always have one in my purse, but during Lent, I’m going to attempt to keep one in my hand or within reach at all times, as a tactile reminder to pray.
For a visual reminder, I’m changing the “wallpaper” on all of my electronic devices to an image by artist Kevin Carden. Carden’s artwork depicts a windy, rainy day, and it appears that there are actual boulders lifted into the air by the storm. The central image is a man whose feet are blowing out from underneath him, but he’s saved from being swept away by clinging tightly to a cross. You can view the artist’s copyrighted image here.
Author Derek Volk describes Carden’s artwork:
Just cling. That’s all.
No matter how it bears down on you. Just cling.
No matter what mess crashes in on you. Cling.
Through the grief. Cling.
Through the anxiety. Cling.
Through the horror of a story you can’t believe is yours. Cling.
He does not move. Ever.
And we can trust Him. Even when absolutely nothing else makes sense.
Just cling.
Just cling. And pray.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)
To see more great art by Kevin Carden, check out his website–ChristianPhotoshops.com
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