Praying for God

Recently a young friend wrote me and asked for my thoughts. Here is what she said...

Hi Paul!

I've been pondering something lately and wanted to hear your thoughts on it. You have a great knowledge of the gospel and I respect, and am interested in, your gospel-related thoughts and ideas.

I was out for a run the other day, and my mind started to wander (running time is great thinking time for me). As I ran I realized that I do something kind of strange. Then I wondered does it even make sense? Am I confused about prayer? Or is it maybe not so strange and abnormal after all?

Sometimes when I pray I don't just pray *to* God, but I pray *for* Him. As I ran I wondered if others do this, or if it's a silly act to pray for an omnipotent God. I need Him, and I know that he loves having a relationship with me, and is happy to hear my prayers and worship, but does he need me to pray for him? I highly doubt it. I mean, I know that he doesn't *need* it, but does it make a difference?

I don't feel that I'm wasting my time. No time spent praying is wasted time, but I wonder if he just smiles and thinks "what a silly girl!" I've decided to assume that he just sees it as an act of love (like how I'd pray for my earthly father). I'm curious to hear what you think though.

(name withheld)

And here is what I said back...

Dear ...

I really enjoyed reading your story about running and praying for God. I got a good chuckle out of it. I'll admit that you are the first person that ever told me that they prayed for God. It's funny because if God is omnipotent (all-powerful) and omniscient (all-knowing) and omnipresent (everywhere at once) as well is, love, good, changeless, perfect, holy and more, then it would seem that God doesn't need praying for. As well, who do you pray to when you're praying for God. But since we pray for others whom we love, I'm pretty sure that God takes your prayer for him as a high compliment.

No, God doesn't need us to pray for him. God doesn't need or lack anything. Since God is Father, Son and Spirit loving each other, then they have each other's love. I think God probably has a chuckle when he hears you praying for him. But if you love God, that is what counts. I don't think he'll hold it against you.

The only think that I would caution you on, is that if you happen to be praying for God because you think he needs it or he is lacking something or is somehow imperfect, then, I would examine who I though God was.

Thanks so much for making my day with you story of praying for God! Catch you again.

Jesus or Squirrel

One Sunday a pastor was using squirrels for an object lesson for the children. He started, "I'm going to describe something, and I want you to raise your hand when you know what it is." The children nodded eagerly.

"This thing lives in trees (pause) and eats nuts (pause)..." No hands went up. "And it is gray (pause) and has a long bushy tail (pause)..." The children were looking at each other nervously, but still no hands raised. "It jumps from branch to branch (pause) and chatters and flips its tail when it's excited (pause)..."

Finally one little boy tentatively raised his hand. The pastor quickly called on him. "Well," said the boy, "I know the answer must be 'Jesus' ... but it sure sounds like a squirrel!"

We trice our puddings...by and large - S. Maturin in "The Ionian Mission."

One of the great jokes in all of O'Brians novels came when Stephen Maturin, "practised" (made sport of) upon a fellow ship mate, a professor named Graham.  As they were talking Graham decried, "the nautical mind" which Stephen promptly defended by choosing a "faux ami" to put the pompous Graham in his place. So Stephen used this phrase to talk about "pudding."

"Puddings. We trice'em athwart the starboard gumbrils, when sailing by and large."

Proud of his new nautical knowledge, Graham repeated it at dinner.  Of course this shocked the whole wardroom with whom he was dining, and actually eating a pudding called 'spotted dog,' The saying brought a priceless response from them.

"Graham's surprise was nothing to that of the wardroom:

'By and large?' they said. 'Gumbrils' starboard gumbrils?' Jack's spotted dog hung in his gullet for a moment before he understood that someone had been practising upon the professor's credulity, an ancient naval form of wit, played off many and many a time on newly-joined young gentlemen, on himself long, long ago and by Pullings and Mowett on Dr Maturin in former years: but never to his knowledge on any man of Graham's eminence.

"Puddings we have sir,' he said swallowing his own, 'and plenty of them. There is a wreath of yarns tapering toward the ends and grafted all over that we clap about the fore and main masts just below the trusses before we go into action, to prevent the yards from falling; then there is a pudding on the boat's stem, to act as a fender; and the puddings we lay round the anchor rings to stop them chafing. But as for gumbrils, why I am afraid someone must have been practising on you. They do not exist.'

The words were scarcely out of his mouth before he wished them back: he knew Stephen extremely well, and that detached dreamy expression could only mean a consciousness of guilt.

'Unless,' added quickly 'it is some archaic term. Yes, I rather think...'

"But is was too late. Captain Harris, the Marine, was already explaining by and large. With a piece of fresh Gibralter bread and arrows drawn with wine, he showed the ship lying as close as possible to the breeze: '... and this is sailing by the wind or as sailors saying in the jargon, on a bowline; whereas large is when it blows not indeed quite from behind but say over a quarter like this.'

'Far enough abaft of the beam that the studdingsails will set,' said Whiting.

'So as you see,' continued Harris, it is quite impossible to sail both by and large at the same time. It is a contradiction in terms.' the expression pleased him and he repeated , 'A contradiction in terms.'

'We do say by and large, said Jack. 'We say a ship sails well by and large when she will both lie close when the wind is scant and run fast when it is free. No that is what your informant meant.'

'I think not, sir,' said Graham. 'I think you first supposition was correct. I have been practised upon. I am content. I shall say not more.'

Dancing Christmas LIghts

Click on the title above for a great light show.

Merry Christmas