By DeAron Washington
Have you ever heard a heartless prayer request? No, I am not referring to the prayer request that wishes for misfortune, like in the country song “Pray for You” by Jaron and the Long Road to Love. Those requests voice the disease, disaster, and death of others. I’m referring to the requests that keep church folk socially distant from the woes and wonders that lie in the recesses of our hearts.
It is a smart tactic to use your request to draw your church members to the pain of others and not your own. As the saying goes, “confession is good for the soul, bad for the reputation.” At the risk of ruining my credibility, I am guilty of over-guarding my heart and giving those heartless prayer requests.
Guard Your Heart
“Guard your heart” is a commonly used phrase in Christian dating conversations. What if we have used this only to justify putting our hearts in a vault? What if, somewhere along the way, we lost the key to the vault that contains our struggles, sins, and sorrows? We have hidden our hearts from those who can petition the throne of grace for us. They don’t know what lies behind our Sunday morning smiles.
What if you asked them to pray for your grief, shame, or discontentment? How about requesting that God would fill the barren cup of your soul? I imagine at this point, you are grabbing your chest or feel a pit in your stomach as you consider letting others see the depths of your soul. Honestly, it is terrifying to let those around you see some of the most fragile parts of yourself. These parts have been intentionally hidden. What does the Bible say?
The Bible Tells Me So
A quick survey of Paul’s letters would reveal his willingness to show others the Gospel and his heart. For example, he told the Thessalonians that they were dear to him, and he gave them the Gospel and himself (1 Thess. 2:8). Also, he encourages the Roman church and us to complete tasks that will remain unattainable unless we reveal the contents of our hearts. We are to weep and rejoice with one another (Romans 12:15). Communal weeping is impossible if we don’t show those sins that we daily wrestle with, or the heartache that seems unresponsive to encouraging statements. Reciprocal rejoicing will evade us if we withhold how our flesh took an “L” this week or how God showed us mercy recently.
At the risk of going for broke, I will add one more layer. James exhorts us to confess our sins to one another (James 5:16). Confession requires us to open the vault and show others the cracks and crevices of our hearts. Then you allow them to do what the Bible tells them to do — pray for you.
Let me add some clarification before you label my words reckless. The Bible contains countless words about the heart. The heart is the source of life (Proverbs 4:23), and it is worthy of protection. I’m not encouraging you to be unwise and wear your heart on your sleeve 24/7; but I’m also not advocating for you the equally unwise action of keeping it locked away. I’m encouraging you to share vulnerable prayer requests and allow your church members or other believers to love you.
Do It With Heart
Here are some helpful ideas I have found as I am attempting to open my vault a little more.
- Read Lamentations and Psalms. Notice the authenticity and unrefined nature of their words. Pay attention to how they show their hearts to God and others.
- Look at Jesus. He shows us his heart is gentle and lowly. He weeps with Mary and Martha. He displays great anguish and sorrow in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Ponder what it means to love. Contemplate the words of C.S. Lewis: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”
- Abandon heartless prayer requests.
Washington is a member of Parkway Church, Clinton.
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