In this Issue
September 2005

FROM THE PASTOR'S DESK
Getting to the point of prayer
By Rev. Dean McIsaac
Quaboag Valley Baptist Church

Are you familiar with the term, “foxhole prayers?” They are the ones we send God when we are feeling desperate and in danger. As a backdrop to the following story, let me ask you – how are you doing right now in your “trust relationship” with God? Are you receiving answers? Are your prayers “working?”

During World War II, a U.S. marine fighting in the South Pacific was separated from his unit. In the intensity of the battle, he had lost touch with his comrades. Alone, he could hear enemy soldiers coming in his direction. Scrambling for cover, he found his way up a high ridge to several small caves in the rock. Quickly, he crawled inside one of the caves. Although safe for the moment, he realized that once the enemy soldiers swept up the ridge, they would quickly search all the caves and he would be killed. As he waited, he prayed, "Lord, please protect me. No matter what your will is though, I love you and trust you. Amen."

After praying, he lay quietly listening to the enemy getting closer. He thought, "Well, I guess the Lord isn't going to help me out of this one." Then he saw a spider begin to build a web over the front of his cave. As he crouched listening to the enemy searching, the spider layered strand after strand of web across the opening of the cave. "I need, a brick wall, not a spider web,” he thought to himself.

As he watched from the darkness of his hideout, he could see them searching one cave after another. When they came to his, he prepared to make his last stand. To his amazement, however, after glancing in the direction of his cave, they moved on. That’s when he realized that with the spider web over the entrance, his cave looked as if no one had entered. "Lord, forgive me," prayed the young man. "I had forgotten that in You, a spider's web is as strong as a brick wall."

So let’s revisit some of my questions: is praying more than a spiritual exercise? Does it make a difference? Really? For sure, God does not always answer us in the time frame we would like; nor does He always give us the answers we want. It does not mean that God refuses to answer our prayers, though. I must admit to you that at times, my prayers must sound to God like a spoiled child standing in front of the checkout counter at Wal-Mart, demanding a package of skittles. The difference between what I want and my real need is not always clear to me. When I want something, it feels like a need. Know what I mean?

Here’s my point – don’t give up on prayer! The purpose of our prayers is not to simply get what we want. Prayer’s purpose is more about an on-going relationship with our Heavenly Father. A mentor once gave me some good counsel. He said, “Dean, God has three ways to answer us. He usually says, ‘yes;’ He sometimes says ‘no;’ often He will tell us, ‘wait.’” Don’t you hate that ‘wait’ word?

The Bible makes it absolutely clear – prayer works! Prayer invites God to become involved in “our stuff.” Prayer starts with the awareness that it’s not just about us; it’s also about Him. God can handle our questions and He can deal with both our joys and disappointments. He really is that BIG!
God bless you!

Rev. Dean McIsaac is pastor of the Quaboag Valley Baptist Church.

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