As a pretty immature Christian, I still find myself treating God like Santa Claus, a leprechaun, or a janitor (Swiffer for my sins?) Admittedly, I've prayed for some really ridiculous things, and now I feel bad for treating what should be a holy, personal encounter with such triviality. Unsurprisingly, I don't feel God's presence quite as strongly when I pray things like:
"God, please...."
....make that old granny walk up the stairs faster!" (When I'm rushing to catch the A train on the way to work.)
....make her stop talking." (When my roommate's going on and on about some dream she had the night before. FYI people, your dreams are boring to everyone but you.)
....help me remember Bernoulli's principle!" (When I'm taking a test I could've studied harder for.)
....make him fail out of school!" (When screwed over by a guy.)
....let my mom buy me a pair of Jimmy Choos."
....let that guy be at church/class/the party today so that he can see how good I look."
And worst of all: "God, if you spare me from the emergency room, I promise I'll NEVER DRINK AGAIN."
I mean, God graciously revealed Himself to me and allowed me to communicate to Him without intercessory...only for me to use that to treat him like a genie?
Lately, God's moved me to let down my defense mechanisms and invite him in...not just so that he can clean up the messes I've made for myself, but so that he can fix the mess I've made
of myself. There are a lot of things wrong with me, but instead of using prayer to reinforce the connection needed for God to reach deep inside and fix those things, I'm siphoning God off to correct the inconveniences in my life.
Revelations 3:20 says, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
God doesn't want to come in just to do the dishes. He wants to share the meal.
Do you ever pray for trivial, ridiculous things? How differently does this feel from when you pray sincerely?
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