The Flog – The Fabry Log

My guest blogger today is my friend, Robert Sutherland. He’s had some ups and downs in life. If you go to my earlier posts from last week and the week before, you’ll see he’s written to me about prayer and how difficult it is.

We’re “fixing our eyes on Jesus” during these 40 days, and no matter what you’re going through, I think that helps anchor us to what is true. We can’t go wrong if we do that.

So as you read Robert’s update, think about what you’ve been reading in Philippians 2 and where you are on the prayer continuum, on the humility continuum, and on the submission scale. Those aren't real measurements, of course. Only God can weigh the heart.

And his heart is turned toward you today.

I hope you have a great Sunday. Here's Robert's entry.

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Hi Chris,

Hope you are well.

You’re not going to believe this! – OK. You are going to believe this.

Do you remember when I said my car’s “Check Engine” light came on when I visited my dad for the weekend? Well, I prayed about it.

On Sunday, I had to drive 150 miles through the countryside to get home. The light never came on! Three days later, it still hasn’t come back on.

Thank you, Jesus!! An answered prayer! Already!

It’s not as if I’ve never prayed before. I have. And I used to read and memorize the Bible too. But that was then. This is now.

I won’t play dumb and pretend I don’t know what made me wander off the prayer path. It usually happens when God disappoints us … or when we feel we’ve disappointed God. At least, that’s what happened with me.

May I speak for people like me for a moment, please? “WE” don’t want to talk to God about our bills, our bosses, our kids, our spouses OR Exes, our pains and our sorrows … because if we do … WE are afraid He’s going to tell us to become missionaries to people who live in smelly trash dumps. That happens, you know. It really does.

WE don’t pray for the same reason WE don’t sit down and take the time to write our last will and testament. WE are afraid of what will happen next.

Praying to God about my job is easy. Several times a week I am told that I am going to be fired if I don’t sell more widgets. But, I know there are a bazillion unemployed people who are praying to God … right this very minute … asking for work! I don’t want God to give my job to somebody else because I’m complaining. I want Him to make it right for ME!

But what if God doesn’t save my job … and INSTEAD … asks me to forgive you-know-who? Or be kinder to people – even while driving?

What if I’m asking for mortgage money and God asks me to tithe more? He does that sort of thing, you know. He really does.

My big problem with prayer has nothing to do with me asking God to make my life better. That’s fine. There’s always time to ask for stuff.

I just don’t want God to – how shall I put this? – ask ME to do stuff … like living the way the Bible says to do.

I mean God wants MY LIFE. ALL of it. That’s WAY more important to Him than my job or my bills.

And that’s scary.

It’s not that I don’t have the time to pray. The truth is: I don’t have the time to become a real, live Christian.

And prayer can do that to people. I’ve seen it happen!

I know what you’re going to say. You’re going to say “Pray about it.”

Right?

OK. I’ll pray about it.

But if I get sent to that trash dump, you’d better visit me.

Robert