We're Not "Past" Thoughts and Prayers

I’m still thinking about the two politicians I quoted on Facebook a couple of days ago who said, “No more thoughts and prayers” and, “We’re past thoughts and prayers”.  We're not "past" them.  Our society shows we haven't even embraced them yet! Here’s my meditation on it as I say my Rosary (“Prayers”) this morning and meditate on the Transfiguration of Jesus.

"Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray.  While He was praying His face changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white." (Luke 9: 28b-36)

I can imagine the dazzling white garment.  I can picture Jesus' face transfigured so brilliantly that only a divine power could transform it.  But these aren’t the point of the gospel.   Jesus didn't go up the mountain to put on a show.   Rather, Jesus "went up a mountain to pray."  And furthermore, this fantastic transformation occurred "While he was praying."  Prayer, then, was the matrix for the Transfiguration.  Prayer was the "takeoff" point of this supernatural event.

Every time Jesus prayed, something "ignited."  Not always so dramatically, but always His communication with His Father was powerful, like touching a lit match to gasoline.

When we pray, we too can "ignite" supernatural communication with God.  It needn't be dramatic.  It may not even be verbal, or visible.  It can be as quiet as a thought, as unnoticeable as the blink of an eye.  But does God see us?  Yes!  Does God hear us?  Definitely!  Does God understand our hearts, as well as our words?  Absolutely!  And is it worth it?  Totally!

I’ll admit there are times in my life when I wonder if prayer really does any good, and I go into a slump.  Thank God it doesn’t happen often anymore and when it does it’s short-lived because I’ve learned that  all I need to do is ask Jesus to help me.  ‘Lord, help me to pray, right now, even if only for a moment.  Lord, You have taught us how to pray in so many ways, with the help of the Holy Spirit, with the words of the "Our Father" with our hearts and our hands, just to name a few.’

We may not "go up a mountain" to pray.  We may not have our clothing turn dazzling white.  We may not even have our facial expressions change.  But prayer always, ALWAYS brings changes.

Prayer changes US.  It changes our hearts.  It can change our circumstances, or the way we look at things. The only thing God asks of us when we pray is sincerity.  “Thoughts and prayers” are not thoughts and prayers unless we actually think and pray with hope and confidence that the prayers will be answered.