Christians Need a Certainty

 

Our Tuesday night group this week prayed against what is becoming a common Atheist/Agnostic mantra for Christians being people that need to have certainty in their lives.

Anna Krien (author/journalist) highlighted their point once more which most of us tuned into on Mondays ABC’s Q&A programme (10/9/2012) in defining  her own status of disbelief.

The main thrust of the (at times) quite aggressive Atheist/Agnostic mantra (not Anna’s - she was quite eloquent) is that Christians need the questions of where they are going, where they came from and why they are here all answered, they are needing labels whilst others just don’t need them.

It can also be argued that Evolution and a belief in Nature or a Something are also need based labels along with Values Based Living and Religion/s themselves as more ‘needy labels’.

A default outcome of the mantra is it insinuates an inferiority for Christians as being needy.

However being Christian has nothing to do with needing certainties as Christianity (Christ) is the re-connection with God through a belief in what Jesus Christ did for us whilst on earth.

The outcome of the re-connection with God is Peace.
 

One will never fully be at peace (some get very good at synthetic peace’s but they aren’t the real deal) as there will always be a niggle, a lingering doubt or a question in the mind about God’s existence simply because he is there.

Certainty is just one by-product (gift) of the Christian/Re-connection with God not a need.

 

Ignatian Wisdom

“The Examen Prayer
Ignatian Wisdom for Our Lives Today”.

The following is an adapted and personalised extract supplied by one of our group members
The prayers and methods of praying suggested by St Ignatious (Google him) who’s gift was to seek God following structured methods. Here is one to pray at the end of the day:

Forgiveness:

I know that I am a fallen human and that I am in need of God’s forgiveness and that due to his love for me I will receive it.  All of this gives great comfort at the end of the day – to know that you are forgiven.

Gratitude:

Reflect through the happenings of the day giving thanks. This could be done hour by hour or event by event. Give thanks.

Petition:

We know that we are recipients of God’s grace, and so that it shouldn’t be wasted on us instead we need to ask these sort of questions.  Ask the Lord, “What do you want to show me about today?”, “What do you want me to learn about today?”  

Review:

We have a variety of thoughts throughout the day – some God-inspired and others not.  What was of God and should be followed and what was not and should be discarded?

Renewal:

As you reflect … be aware of renewal and  in praying this step we ask for grace both to see clearly which initiatives God desires us to choose and to practice those initiatives effectively in the coming day.”  

I am the pilgrim walking with Moses and following the pillar of cloud/fire and being led in endlessly new ways to the fulfilment of the promise of hope.

The Prayer the Lord Taught

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Could be relabelled “The Prayer the Lord Taught” being sinless 

he didn’t need to pray this one to himself.

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name.

Your Kingdom come, 

your will be done, 

on earth as in heaven

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our sins,

as we forgive those who sin against us. 

Lead us not into temptation, 

but deliver us from evil. 

For the kingdom, 

the power and the glory are yours. 

Now and forever - Amen

Two things jump out about Jesus’ prayers. The first his public prayers were brief and secondly in private he pulled out the long ones, even the‘all-nighters’ (Luke 6:12).

The prayer Jesus taught us to pray is as his public prayers were, simple, complete and straight to the point. God only needs us to open our minds/mouths in

prayer to what is on our hearts, not compile poetic verse.

He knows our hearts and minds, just pray it.

Prayer really is that simple...

Why Our Prayers Are Sometimes Not Answered...

James 4:3

"When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures"

It is important when we pray that we take the time to understand our motive for the prayer.

1. Am I expressing Gods love in this situation

2. What is my motivation to do so - anything in it for me?

Our motives as Christians is in performance of Christ like acts (love) that glorify God. Our prayers should  also be a reflection of our motive, especially if we want them answered!!

How Prayer's Can Work...

Many of us lose confidence in prayer because we do not recognise the answer
　
We ask for strength and God gives us difficulties which make us strong

We pray for wisdom and God gives us problems, the solution of which develops wisdom

We plead for prosperity and God gives us a brain and brawn to work

We plead for courage and God gives us danger to overcome

We ask for favours and God gives us opportunities