At the heart of encounterprayer is our conversation with Jesus - that chance to talk with him face to face - but I wonder what we bring to him? How honest are we with God?
I suspect that many of us are sometimes in denial about some of the things going on in our lives, feeling that they are not a problem for us if we don’t mention them. Yet every day we are all affected by a variety of issues, and what is particularly harmful to us is when we decide, for whatever reason, not to bring them to God. Of course, he knows about them anyway, but perhaps what most surprises him is when we try to hide them from him.
I suspect that many of us are sometimes in denial about some of the things going on in our lives, feeling that they are not a problem for us if we don’t mention them. Yet every day we are all affected by a variety of issues, and what is particularly harmful to us is when we decide, for whatever reason, not to bring them to God. Of course, he knows about them anyway, but perhaps what most surprises him is when we try to hide them from him.
If we think about the vast number of people over the ages who have brought their needs and dreams to God, it is unlikely that anything we share is so unusual that it has not been seen or heard by God before. Yet somehow, we fear that we may shock him by being honest about what’s on our hearts.
The season of the Passion and Easter is approaching, and the story of the foot washing is part of this. If you remember, Peter tried to prevent Jesus from taking the role of a servant and washing the disciples’ feet, but Jesus’s reply was: ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ (John 13.8) In other words, being served by Jesus is not just a kindness that we may experience - it is a necessity. I sometimes think about the parallel between having our feet washed by Jesus and receiving ministry, which can be very hard for some people.
The season of the Passion and Easter is approaching, and the story of the foot washing is part of this. If you remember, Peter tried to prevent Jesus from taking the role of a servant and washing the disciples’ feet, but Jesus’s reply was: ‘Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.’ (John 13.8) In other words, being served by Jesus is not just a kindness that we may experience - it is a necessity. I sometimes think about the parallel between having our feet washed by Jesus and receiving ministry, which can be very hard for some people.
Another passage which challenges me whenever I read it occurs in Matthew 7.21-23, when Jesus castigates people who prophesied and did miracles in his name. To them Jesus said, “I never knew you.” I note that he didn’t say that they never knew him, but perhaps they never let him into their lives. They might have prayed a lot yet not been honest with him.
Encounterprayer gives us an ideal opportunity to share everything in our lives with the living God, so as you come to him dare to be honest, because that honesty is your gift to him.
Encounterprayer gives us an ideal opportunity to share everything in our lives with the living God, so as you come to him dare to be honest, because that honesty is your gift to him.
