“Says all, knows nothing” was a popular quote when I was growing up.
People who would assume to know all about a topic because they had read about
it, knew someone who knew someone who did, or passed a test in school proving
they did. It seems the only time they opened their mouth was to remind us of
how stupid they really were, yet these types went onto high paying jobs in high
positions, despite their ignorance. Over the years I had many managers who
couldn’t do my job, but when needed I could fit into theirs and do it just as
well. At least to pass the test. From nepotism to fellow ballplayers, many
times it was who they knew, rather than what they knew that counted, and when
asked a specific question, rally never had a great answer, or at least one that
answered your question. For instance...
With my open heart surgery, and the accompanying disease, I am the only one
in medical history who had what I had. Some may come close with some of the
problems, but none can compare with me. Yet upon leaving the hospital, and even
before, I was deluged with advice on how to take care of myself. People who
were well wishing sometimes, who knew a friend with the same thing-wrong, had
stints they thought was open heart surgery-wrong, or wanted to show how superior
they were to me. As I must have been in sin for it to happen to me,heard that
one more than once. So after listening to their dribble, and putting up with
it, when they said “I understand what you are going through,” I started to
answer, “really, then explain it to me, I don’t get it.” Effectively ending the
conversation, with a few who warned me not to get so rude. Seemed fair, as they
should know all about rude. But sometimes it’s just like a friend, who seeing
my FJ1100, bragged he had one too. Mine was like new, his was rattle can black,
missing part of the fairing, and the exhaust dented. He did have one too, just
not like mine. Or was it mine wasn’t like his? Another very rich man, tried to
impress a group of us riders one day with all the places in the US of A he had
been. But when we started naming roads, restaurants, things we had seen along
the way, he wanted to change the conversation. We had both been to many of the
same places, but he had flown in, attended a meeting at a hotel, then flown out
again. Same town, different places, and he had really not seen very much.
Unless you consider visiting airports a motorcycle trip...
The news tells us how crime is going down locally, and we should all feel
safer. Yet when my car was stolen, it was 100% in my neighborhood,and at my
home. Attend a smoke free beach, it is until the first one lights up. Pick a
subject, and someone will need to explain it to me...like the time...
I was leaving church,when a man saw my Triumph shirt and wanted to talk.
He had one too, then his wife entered the conversation, telling me how she was
in the medical field and how dangerous motorcycles were. I told her I was in
the medical field too, a patient, which she didn’t think was funny, true, being
a patient isn’t funny, but I said, “I’m really glad to meet you, as I have a
medical question.” Her eyes lit up. “I have had three friends die in their
sleep the past two months, is it safe for me to go to sleep tonight?” Her answer
contained some words you don’t hear at church or the ones George Carlin used to
joke about not being heard on the radio. I just wanted to know and gave her a
chance....”says all, knows nothing.” Now there’s one you don’t have to explain
to me.
1 John tells us that if we pray with confidence, God hears us. According
to his will. Many leave out the last part. But Jesus made it simple, when his
disciples asked him how to pray. With two key verses, to explain it all. “Thy
will be done.” Maybe the four hardest words in a prayer. But when his will is
done, we can be assured of his answer. And we will be blessed by it. No more
20 minute diatribe explaining the situation to God, as if he isn’t aware of it,
just ask “what is your will for me today?” Listening the most important part of
prayer, before and after asking. And as you get to know his voice, we are
reassured that the sheep, us, know the voice of the great shepherd, Jesus. That
is true praying in the spirit, it is all about Jesus, not us. But don’t stop
asking, but start listening more, might save you a lot of talking. He didn’t
say to he who has a voice, let him speak, he did say, to he who has an ear, let
him hear. And then his second answer, “on earth as it is in heaven.” When in
the spirit, Jesus is always with us. We don’t have to leave earth to be in his
presence, to have Jesus, for wherever we are, his spirit that dwells in also
is. Simple prayer, simple answer. But Jesus goes further....
In the garden of Gethsemane, facing death, he cried not to God his father,
“not my will, but yours be done.” Can we ever pray so boldly? And later saying
“I am glad that you heard me.” So if we pray in the spirit, we will have the
things of the spirit, heavenly things from God in heaven, and we know that what
we ask in his will shall be done. And that those things outside of his will,
will not be done. Think about it, we are given the answers to our prayers
before we ask, when we ask in his name. His will be done. God plays no
favorites, lest you think you must find a priest or pastor to pray for you, but
we can join the group of those who have intimacy with him in prayer. Put
simply, you are never alone when you have the spirit of God within you, and
always have the perfect prayer partner with you. Who better to pray with than
him? Some pray to God, we can pray with him. And in his will, in his time, it
will come true! So explain it to me, why are you asking more and getting less?
Are not the words of Jesus, and his example enough? What part of the truth
don’t you get?
We all pray, but do we all understand the answer? Yes, we think God is so
great, he agrees with me. No, he must not understand, I’ll try a different
approach. But when he says wait, what do we do? For how long, for what? Do I
have to pray again if I don’t agree with his answer? Please, let’s hurry it up
Lord....These things shall follow them that believe, and it starts with prayer.
Being in his will by seeking him, and his truth. Praying in the spirit, and
knowing he has already the answer. Recovering from surgery, Isaiah 65:24
reminds us that before we ask, he is at work. Isn’t that the kind of God we
want and need? I was in a coma for eight days, unable to pray, and yet God knew
and heard me. By his spirit. So if you don’t understand, ask the only one who
does. Jesus. You see I have been there, and if you say you understand, I would
love to hear your testimony. On earth as it is in heaven. What better answer
can you ever have....knowing he hears us even before we ask. I guess that
should just about explain it all...
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com