Dear Believers,
People who pray experience spiritual transformation.
I have taught at Payne Theological Seminary, as an Adjunct Professor of Spiritual Formation, for twenty years. Payne is an A.M.E. seminary (African Methodist Episcopal). It is one of three black academic institutions in Wilberforce, Ohio (with Wilberforce University, and Central State University). Payne Seminary is the oldest free-standing black seminary in our nation. What a joy and privilege to teach there!
Spiritual Formation is about how God changes the human heart. The core of my class is praying. I know, by experience, and by Scripture, that if a student develops a habitual praying life, they will change, and never be the same again. Their spiritual lives will be green and growing.
In John chapters fourteen and fifteen Jesus shares the open secret of his success with his disciples. Which is: He is in the Father, and the Father is in him. He then invites his disciples into that Trinitarian relationship. The point of entry is given in his illustration of the Vine and the branches. Be like a branch, says Jesus, connected to himself, the Vine. Then, he says, you will bear much fruit.
How shall we do this? Praying is a major way of abiding in Christ. As we live the abiding life, keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, God predicates, of us, the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). Which are attributes of God himself. I have learned that a person cannot have a consistent praying life and remain unchanged.
Consider this, as an analogy. Imagine receiving a phone call from the President of the United States. I know this is never going to happen. Just, for now, use your imagination! Imagine the President of the world’s most powerful nation asks if you would meet with them, for an hour, every day, to talk about how to make our nation, and the world, better. Would you clear out your schedule to do this? I know I would! The opportunity to co-labor with the world’s most powerful leader would be beyond-words incredible!
Would you be affected by this? I think you would be in a state of ongoing mind-and-heart transformation. Probably, we could just look at you and see the difference. (Remember Moses when he came down from the mountain.)
Now, what if the omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent, necessarily existent, all merciful, all-gracious, all-truthful, all-compassionate Creator and sustainer of all that is, Mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, invited you to have conversations with 24 him, every day, about advancing his Kingdom on the earth? Would you give up chatting on social media to do this? Or your golf game, or whatever, to take time for this?
What might we conclude about someone who is too busy for this? They would be, using Jesus’s metaphor, a disconnected branch, producing nothing. (John 15:5-6) Dead branches do not exhibit life-changing transformation.
Remember when Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commands?” My believing brothers and sisters, if you believe in Him, you will pray. And if praying becomes a way of life, you will walk in ongoing transformation into Christlikeness. (Galatians 4:19)
Love,
PJ
MEDITATION
Write these words on a 3X5 card.
Carry it with you.
Read it often.
Do not be conformed to the standards of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
Then you will be able to discern the good and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2
From my book 31 Letters to the Church on Praying.
