Leaving It All To Him

Psalm 69:13:
But Lord, I make my prayer
unto Thee
in an acceptable time, even
in the multitude of thy mercy:
O God, hear me in the truth of thy salvation.

Prayer, said C.S. Lewis, (paraphrasing here) is not a tool for us to use to change God, but is an instrument the Lord uses to change us. In it we acknowledge that it is only He who can make this change, for truly we are helpless to do so. We pray to no one but God, for our help only comes from Him.

I look at myself, then, for I know one thing – I am in need of change – can others see that I’ve changed? that I am changing, that I’m willing to change?

What does it mean when a person goes for years and is the same – never changing, never yielding, resting on laurels, carping on the same old things? Who can go, day by day, as the unchanging person they’ve always been, self-deceived, never admitting their faults, never increasing in grace nor in forgiveness? Such a soul’s prayers likely reflect the same fruitless rigidity: unchanging, rote, barren of humility; bland missives colorless of passion.

Jesus prayed. A lot.

What does it say that He did, but had no NEED to? Being the only one who did so who not need to change, His prayers STILL were always with His Father’s will in mind, STILL focused on others, STILL pleading for strength to obey He did not lack, and which He perfectly carried out.

And now, risen and ascended to His Father’s right hand, as the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, he still prays, not to be changed, but for us to be prepared to meet Him there.