Prayer Note #53 — A Lenten Prayer

A Lenten Prayer of a Busy Christian
“Transcribed” by Pastor Gary A. Chorpenning

What do you want me to do, Lord? Isn’t that what I’m supposed to ask you in this season of Lent? I don’t mean to be rude to you, God, but I have to confess that my life is already really busy. I know that it’s important to pay attention to my spiritual life. It’s just that I can never seem to find much spare time to really concentrate on my spiritual life.

I realize it doesn’t sound right to call it “spare” time, like I’m just giving you my left overs. I don’t really think about it like that . . . . At least, I don’t mean to think about it like that. It’s just that I’ve constantly got people and situations demanding my time and attention, so that my calendar is constantly filling up. In fact, Lord, some of what fills up my calendar is stuff I’m doing for the church. . . though sometimes that church work drains my soul more than feeds it. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, Lord, but honestly that’s how it feels sometimes.

So, I guess, after I’ve run from commitment to commitment – you want me to keep my commitments, don’t you, Lord? After I’ve run from commitment to commitment all day, my fuel tank is pretty empty, and all I can manage is to escape into some video gaming or TV watching. I’m just kind of worn out. What else can I do?

You want me to be involved in things – my family’s activities, the life of my community, the programs of the church – you want that, don’t you? I know, God, that a person can get over-committed, but all this stuff that I’m doing is good stuff . . . right?

Though, it doesn’t really leave me much time or energy to just sit and talk to you, like I’m doing now, and I have to admit that it feels pretty good to just sit and talk to you . . . and to listen, too. Talking and listening to my Father. I guess, I’ve sort of missed this. I guess, I’ve really missed this.

But shouldn’t I be out there doing something . . . accomplishing something . . . instead of just sitting here? Except the truth is that more and more, when I’m all busy doing stuff – work stuff, family stuff, even church stuff – I get the feeling that I’m just going through the motions, like I’m just numbly doing for the mere sake of doing something. Sometimes, I guess, it feels kind of empty. Like I said a minute ago, sometimes even the church stuff – the “religious” stuff – doesn’t really feed my soul anymore.

Father, you know, I guess I’m feeling pretty empty inside, hollow, hungry. And now that I think about it, this talk I’m having with you tastes pretty good to me. It’s sort of filling in some of the hollowness in my soul. You know, Lord, I bet I’d be better at doing the stuff I do, if I were a little less hollow and empty inside. I think I’d know better why I’m doing it.

Father, do you suppose you could help me change things around so that I’d have some space in my days to just sit and talk to you like this? I’d like that. But I’ll need your help.

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“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 [ESV]

“Lord, you have made us for yourself, and we are restless until we find rest in you.” St. Augustine (turn of the 5th century)

“What is the primary and highest purpose of human beings?
The primary and highest purpose of human beings is to glorify God and to enjoy him completely forever.” Westminster Larger Catechism, ques. #1

© 2015 Gary A. Chorpenning; all rights reserved.