29th. May. 2022. Service.

The Jonah School of Prayer

And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish. Jonah 1:17-2:1

There is a popular book series that depicts prayer as a way to strengthen angels in their battle against demons. As people pray, the angels literally become empowered, as if prayer itself were directly responsible for an angel’s strength. I remember reading it, many years ago, and it did prompt me to get on my knees. I didn’t want any feeble angels guarding me.

The only problem is that this reduces prayer to magic. It makes the prayer itself seem powerful, not God. I have, for many years, had this conception of prayer—that it is about asking for something when I’m in trouble and all my efforts to fix things have ended in failure. I then say some words and cross my fingers. Maybe God comes through, and things work out, but more often they don’t.

I went through a disappointing series of events in my life and approached prayer this way. When I didn’t get the answer I wanted, I began to grow bitter. If you are real, I thought, why don’t you show yourself? If prayer is about getting something from God and things don’t work out the way that you want, it leaves you with the impression that he’s too busy to care. It may cause you to wonder if he’s there at all.

That’s not prayer. Not really. Prayer is the deepest work of the human spirit, and it is not about manipulating God to do what we want. It is not magic. Prayer is the place where we commune with God. It is a moment when we set aside the things that are distracting us and bow before him. It starts with submission to his sovereignty and acknowledging who he is. It means being willing to set aside what you want, if it is not his will.

The story of Jonah is the story of a man who is running from God. He doesn’t want what God wants. You don’t see him in prayer; quite the opposite. He doesn’t want to go to Nineveh and, if anything, is hoping that they are judged and punished by God. If he were interested in sharing God’s heart, he would be in prayer from the beginning. Prayer is the place where we humble ourselves and ask for his will to be done, not ours. It’s the opposite of how we typically use prayer.

Jonah prays to the Lord his God from inside the fish (Jonah 2:1). Something happened. Jonah came to accept that he is the servant, and God is God. He had to be broken first. If you continue reading the story, you can see that Jonah’s heart is changed. His heart has agreed with the Lord’s plans. When he is coughed up, he does what the Lord commands, and it does bring the Ninevites to repentance, which was the Lord’s plan all along.

Prayer sometimes comes at desperate moments, but it is always with the understanding that God knows what is best. We are asked to bring our petition before him, but more importantly, to submit to his will. It may not be what we ask. If that’s the case, we are the ones who need to change. We pray that his will be done, not ours. If you do, you will change. You will long for the things he wants. And you will find that your prayers will be answered. Michael Cranford.

Lord, as we come to you in prayer, change our hearts. Make us yearn for the same things you do and agree with your purposes. Amen.

Prayer for Forgiveness

Uncreated Essence, I have sinned against You in mind, soul, and body; do not remember my former sins for the sake of Your Holy name. Have mercy upon Your Creatures and upon me, a great sinner. In the name of Jesus Christ, and by His faith and by His sacrifice, I pray, Amen.

“The Soul of Christ”

Soul of Christ, be my sanctification,
Body of Christ, be my salvation,
Blood of Christ, fill all my veins;
Water of Christ’s side, wash out my stains;
Passion of Christ, my comfort be;
O good Jesu, listen to me;
In thy wounds I fain would hide,
Ne’er to be parted from thy side;
Guard me, should the foe assail me;
Call me when my life shall fail me,
Bid me come to thee above,
With thy Saints to sing thy love,
World without end. Amen. Anime Christe, 14th century tr. John Henry Newman, 1878