Thursday, August 11, 2005

School

Well, children...

The countdown has begun.

Today is Thursday, August 11th, and I now officially have 4 and 1/2 days remaining before my first class of the semester! I, for one, am ridiculously excited about this fact, because I am in graduate school, which means I chose to be here and thus love education. Some of you all might not be quite as psyched.

But here is where I lead into a little discussion about prayer, the actual topic of this blog. There are a lot of things in our lives that fall into the category of drudgery. In case that word is unfamiliar to you, substitute "totally boring." We have to get up every morning, brush our teeth, eat the same old cereal, go to school or work, get home, clean up, do homework or housework, and go to bed. Yawn. I often find myself complaining about little things -- a leaky faucet, the traffic on my five-minute commute to school, nothing decent to watch on TV.

How ridiculous!

Shouldn't I instead be rejoicing about the fact that I have running water? Shouldn't I praise God that I have a good car to get me to school -- and for that matter, that I have the opportunity to go to school at all? Shouldn't I thank my heavenly Father that I don't have to work 18-hour days just to make enough money to buy food, and that I have some free time to watch TV in the first place?

The word "Rejoice" occurs in the Bible over 150 times, and the phrase "Give thanks" occurs 75 times! Yet, when we pray, we often rattle off a list of complaints and requests. Now, don't get me wrong. God always wants us to be honest with him about our frustrations -- the psalmist David was nothing if not honest when he complained to God. But David also spent a lot of time thanking and praising God.

Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray "at all times," and the Psalms are chock-full of commands to give thanks to the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord all the time! Thank God for electricity, for a warm bed, and for a healthy body when your alarm goes off at 6:15. Praise Him for a brain that works like it should and a country that provides you with a free education during math class. Rejoice in His provision of a home and a loving family when your mom tells you to take out the trash. Again. Be creative.

There's no reason to be a sullen pray-er. Get yourself excited as you count down the days to school by praising God for everything. It just might change your attitude.

3 comments:

Allison said...

I already started school.... wahoo... actually.... Im very grateful because I have wonderful teachers... Im taking Journalism and I just pray that I survive the amounts of writting that we will do... But... I love to write, so it shouldnt be a problem. Its my way of expressing myself, and I find myself often talking to, and thanking God through my writing... Epecially in my little journal thing (which I am sure you have all seen) Anyways... keep me in prayer.. this year is going to be a toughie. but ohh.. the joys of finally being a Junior... Upperclassman!
peace!
~Allison

Jonna said...

I start back tomorrow with a "week" to plan before I see my students. Should be terribly interesting. I am a mixture of excited and nervous--didn't think teachers felt that way, huh? Some of us just hide it well...especially we overachievers.

I forget less often now of what a privilege it is to be able to speak with God anytime, anywhere, and about anything. He is so good to me!! Prayer is not a chore, it is a necessity...

Jonna

Russ said...

Laura,

Thanks for all of the compliments! You are such an encouragement to me.

Where was that awesome pic of the colorful city skyline taken? Europe? New York?

I totally agree with you post on praying in thanksgiving. Man, I SO struggle with that sometimes! I look at my earthly situation rather than my eternal destination, and Satan eats my lunch. Must look Christward, rather than inward and earthward.

Well, let the semester begin! We need to go into this semester with a wartime mentality; this does not mean a wartime mentality of drudgery. It is a wartime mentality, without sounding too Piperistic, to fight for pleasure in the heavenly places.

You rock! Keep those awesome posts comin'!