Death Defying Prayers and Being Heard

S - Hebrews 5:7-10 (NLT): "While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could deliver him out of death. And God heard his prayers because of his reverence for God. So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the line of Melchizedek."

O - Jesus was heard not out of a position or status but because of his relational connection with God.  He wasn't heard because he was sinless (he was). He wasn't heard because he was perfect, flawless as a human (he was). He wasn't heard because he had a job to do for God (though he did).  He was heard as the Son, the one who is loved by the Father and who loves the Father back.  His love for the Father carried him to trust no matter what and to welcome his Father's will come what may.  His words to the twelve were (John 14:28-31, NLT): "Remember what I told you: I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, because now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am. I have told you these things before they happen so that you will believe when they do happen. "I don't have much more time to talk to you, because the prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me, but I will do what the Father requires of me, so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let's be going."

A - Trust, welcoming the Father's will … "come, let's be going."  This is pretty much it day by day.  I get to live out the relational reality of an adopted child.  I get to trust (fierce personal loyalty) and welcome God's will on earth as they do in heaven.  As I do, I pray and because I am loved I am heard (even if I do not receive that for which I've asked).  Obedience is not just something to "be done" but rather something to "be learned" which shapes us according to the image and likeness of God. In the suffering God is working everything for good (cf. Romans 8:28-29). He really is purposeful in everything he causes and in everything he allows.  When suffering is my/our portion (and at some point it is the portion for us all) my assignment is trust, welcome, pray … come on … let's be going and the going is WITH him and IN him regardless of the topography.

P - Lord who hears us because you love us,
I love you back!  I thank you for this day, this season and all it contains … even though there is pain aplenty.  Thank you for your fierce personal loyalty for every human being; that you would literally rather die than be without one of us.  Lord, I want to offer back to you my very little and limited version of fierce personal loyalty and to welcome all that you are doing and allowing even if I can't explain it, don't understand it or even like it much.  I'm in because I will go anywhere you are going.  I'm in because you are awesomely brilliant, limitless in power and extreme in your goodness … and you have loved me first, most and refused to change your mind.  I hope that the world will know that I love you, love the Father and love the Holy Spirit.  I'm not tough, but (kata karis - accoriding to grace) I am willing.  Okay, Lord, let's be going.
Steve