I want you to be completely honest. No one is looking over your shoulder or breathing down your neck. This is just between you and God, okay? Here’s my question.
On a scale of one to ten, how does your “want-to” rank in terms of desiring time to spend with the Lord? How badly do you really want it? If (1) is “I could care less,” and (10) is “I cannot imagine starting my day without first spending quality time with God,” how do you measure up?
Remember, be as honest as you can. Your word is safe with me. I promise. And I can also guarantee you one thing with absolute certainty: God will do major heart surgery on you if you’ll let Him.
So let’s determine just how serious you are about your prayer life. Do you sincerely desire a personal, intimate relationship with your Lord? Or is it just lip service and wishful thinking on your part? As believers, we know we’re supposed to pray. But knowing and doing aren’t even in same ballpark for most of us. The problem is, if we don’t even have the desire to pray, what does that say about us? Imagine being head-over-heels in love with someone—but having no desire whatsoever to spend time with that person. Doesn’t sound like a very healthy relationship to me. Exactly what kind of love is that? So when we say we love God, yet make no time for Him in our lives, well—what kind of love is that?
So I’ll ask you again. How badly do you want it?
Let’s take it one step further. How important is the Lord in the overall scope of your life? What kind of place do you give Him in your daily routine? Remember those “God is my copilot” bumper stickers? Holy screwed-up theology, Batman! That little jewel may be the single most blatantly misconceived product ever to roll out of Christian marketing. When you give your life to God, be assured the last role He wants to play is your copilot. Surrendering to Christ means stepping aside and giving Him the pilot’s seat—not the other way around.
Need proof? God is really serious about this. Take another look at the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20. In that coveted #1 spot, He makes it perfectly clear: “You shall have no other gods before Me.” Meaning, you’re not the boss of Him. Meaning, you’re not the hotshot pilot you think you are, so get your butt over there in the copilot seat and let Him do the flying. Any questions?
Years ago, our youth group performed a dramatic skit I’ll never forget. With permission from scriptwriter John Alexander at DramaShare.org, I’d like to share a summary of “The Visitor” with you.
The scene starts with a teenager (we’ll call her Briana) sitting in her bedroom. There’s a knock at the door. Briana goes to the door, answers it, and finds Jesus (unseen) standing there. She gives Him a big hug, welcomes Him into her room, and invites Him to take a seat on a chair after she clears away all the clutter. She begins a long litany of explanations why she hasn’t been able to spend much time with Him lately—homework, Christmas shopping, her busy, busy schedule—and assures Him she’s cleared the evening for just the two of them.
Briana tells Jesus all about the things happening in her life. She’s been chosen to be captain of the cheerleading squad for next year, and she acknowledges how happy He must surely be since she’ll be in such a high profile position—for His honor, of course. She also informs Him she’s decided to pursue a career as an airline pilot. That means, unfortunately, that she won’t be keeping her promise to serve Him overseas, but that was probably just an unrealistic childish commitment on her part, one He probably knew she’d never keep. She’s sure He only wants what’s best for her, and she loves that about Him.
Then the phone rings, and Briana is invited to a party that’s going on at a friend’s house. She hesitates at first, knowing she promised to spend the evening getting caught up with Jesus. But when she finds out a certain guy is there asking for her, she quickly changes her mind. She hangs up and turns to Jesus . . .
“Listen, something has come up; we are going to have to do this later. . . . Some of my friends, they really want me to be with them. And, I thought maybe it would be best, one of Yours being there where many don’t even know Your Name.” As Briana gets ready to leave, she tells Jesus she won’t be that long. “Listen, why don’t You just sit right there ’til I get back. Relax, enjoy! Look, here’s a magazine.” (Flips through a few pages.) “Well, maybe not this particular magazine . . . wait a minute, television! That’s it!” She picks up the remote and starts flipping through the channels.” Let’s see, what’s on tonight? Maybe not that one, what about . . . or maybe. . . . Listen, seems like kind of a nothing night on TV. Silly me.” She finally decides Jesus needs to just rest until she returns.
As she starts to leave, it’s apparent that Jesus wants to go with her. “Where are You going? You sit down. In the chair, right here. No, You cannot come with me. My friends aren’t the type, er, that is, You wouldn’t enjoy it at all. See you later then . . .”
He attempts to follow her again. Briana tries to hide her frustration. “I said, You sit! I don’t want you to come with me. I mean, I want You, but the time has to be right, understood? And this is simply not the proper time. Stay!”
Once more He starts to follow her. “What gives with You?” she bellows. “I take time out for You, invite You in, then You just try to take over my life! I will tell You when! So back off!”
Again He follows. In utter exasperation, she shouts at Jesus. “I’ve had it with You! Now then, back there in the corner . . .” Then, one at a time, she lifts His hands and mimes driving nails into them as the sound of a hammer blow accompanies each strike. The stages goes black.1
I remember the first time I saw that skit. Like everyone else, I thought, what a fool that girl is. Nobody does that to Jesus! It only took a couple of seconds until I felt hot tears streaming down my face. I realized I do the exact same thing every day of my life in a hundred different ways. Oh, maybe not intentionally or as heartlessly as Briana nailing Jesus’ hands to the cross. Then again, maybe exactly like that. All those times I leave Him out of my plans, my thoughts, my emotions, my activities. All those times I let the day get away from me without ever stopping to pray. All those times I inadvertently ignore scripture telling me how much He yearns for me to seek Him out. “Taste and see that the LORD is good!” the psalmist said in Psalm 34:8. Jeremiah 33:3 says, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” What kind of fool ignores invitations like that?
The conviction I felt was overwhelming. Still, it’s nothing more than hot air and smoke and mirrors if all we do is talk about it, fret over it, or pile on massive amounts of guilt about it.
Anne Graham Lotz tells the story of a man who passed by a pet store and saw a magnificent bird in the window. When he went inside to inquire, he saw a sign on the bird’s cage: “This bird is guaranteed to sing.” Despite the exorbitant price of $1,000 including the cage, the man had to have the bird; so he paid for it, took the bird in its cage, and went home. He waited all day for the bird to sing, but it never did.
The next morning he went back to the pet store to complain. The clerk apologized for not mentioning that the bird needed a ladder in its cage before it would sing. The man bought the $20 ladder, took it home, put it in the cage—nothing. Each morning he went back to the pet store, angry that the bird still wouldn’t sing. And each day the clerk apologized and suggested another necessary item for the cage: a bell for $25, a mirror for $30, a swing for $35. The man stormed home on that last day and put the swing in the cage. The bird climbed its ladder, rang its bell, looked into its mirror, swung on its new swing—then promptly dropped dead!
The man was furious. He grabbed the fully-equipped cage with the dead bird and took it back to the pet store. He yelled at the clerk for selling him a bird for $1,000 and the additional $110 worth of toys. “Not only does this bird not sing,” the man roared, “but it’s dead! What went wrong?” “Oh,” the clerk responded, “did I forget to tell you? He also needed birdseed.”2
Sound familiar? Have you ever tried to drive your car when the gas gauge reads
empty? Ever put on a pair of snow skis and head down the slopes without first learning how to ski? Ever try to fly a military jet without first learning how to fly? Ever attempt brain surgery with no formal medical training? Get the point? How in the world can you live as a Christian if you’ve never learned how? How can you possibly know the Lord without ever spending time with Him? How can you follow the path He’s set before you if you never ask Him which way to go?
But beyond all our mistaken logic and pathetic attempts to make it on our own are the tremendous blessings we miss when we bypass the simple relationship He offers us through prayer.
Since we’ve already discussed your TV habits, let’s use this analogy: Life without prayer is like watching TV on an ancient twelve-inch black-and-white TV set. The picture is snowy and distorted, and no matter how much aluminum foil you wrap around those rabbit ears, you can’t see a thing. Life with a personal prayer relationship with God is like watching TV on a sixty-inch flat-screen in high definition, with surround-sound speakers and a picture so clear you think you’re right there on the eighteenth hole in Augusta with Mickelson as he makes his final putt.
Baby, I’m all over that flat-screen HD/surround-sound kind of life. That black and white, sorry excuse of an existence is outta here. My guess is, if you’ve read along this far with me, that’s where your heart’s desire is as well. You’re craving the relationship God has offered to you, am I right?
Then let’s do it. Let’s take the plunge and learn how to get started.
But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.
–DEUTERONOMY 4:29