"Start
from where you are." This simple directive, found in C.S. Lewis's book Letters
to Malcolm, holds the power to transform your prayer life. In four basic
words, it encapsulates a biblical vision of prayer that avoids two common
pitfalls: worldly prayers and false spirituality. These pitfalls often stifle
our thanksgiving and adoration of God and hinder our requests to Him,
especially concerning earthly blessings and needs. Let's delve into these
errors and see if they resonate with your experiences.
Worldly Prayers
The
first error, which we'll call worldly prayers, involves praying in a manner no
different from an unbeliever. Jesus addresses this issue twice in Matthew 6,
contrasting the prayers of the Gentiles with those of His followers:
"When
you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that
they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father
knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6:7–8)
"Do
not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What
shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly
Father knows that you need them all." (Matthew 6:31–32)
Here,
Jesus criticizes both the manner and aims of unbelieving prayers—repetitive
phrases and an anxious pursuit of earthly provision. This warning implies that
His followers can mistakenly mimic unbelievers by prioritizing material
blessings and attempting to manipulate God into fulfilling their desires,
treating Him like a butler rather than the sovereign Lord.
False Spirituality
In
response to the danger of worldly prayers, some Christians swing to the
opposite extreme, which we can call false spirituality. This involves a pious
refusal to pray for earthly goods, focusing exclusively on spiritual blessings
and communion with God. This mindset limits our prayers to spiritual matters
alone, ignoring Jesus's teaching to pray for daily bread (Matthew 6:11) and the
numerous Psalms where earthly needs and deliverances are sought and thanked
for.
Balancing Spiritual and Earthly Prayers
To
avoid these errors, we should offer spiritual prayers for earthly goods.
Lewis's principle of "begin where you are" can guide us in this
endeavor.
From Pleasure to Thanks
Lewis
suggests starting with the concrete and present blessings around us to foster
worship and adoration. Earthly blessings, even minor ones, are tangible and
immediate, making them an excellent starting point for gratitude. For instance,
a warm shower, a satisfying breakfast, or the laughter of your children are all
concrete blessings that reflect God's kindness.
By
directing our attention to these everyday mercies, we can recognize them as
messages of God's generosity. Every pleasure can become a channel of adoration
when we frame it as a gift from our gracious Lord. Thus, Lewis encourages us to
give thanks for these blessings, specifying our gratitude in detail.
"Thank you, Lord, for the smoothness of the table, the softness of my
socks, the sweetness of the honey, the silliness of my son, and the wisdom and
compassion of my wife."
From Thanks to Adoration
Once
we've given thanks, we can follow this gratitude back to adoration. Recognizing
that these earthly blessings are reflections of God's bounty, we can leap from
gratitude to worship. "Such earthly blessings, O Lord, are simply the
far-off echoes of your own goodness. These are but the fringes of your ways,
and at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."
From
our first breath in the morning to our last conscious thought at night, Lewis
encourages us to receive and give thanks for God's earthly kindness, allowing
this gratitude to elevate our worship and weave in the spiritual blessings of
redemption, forgiveness, and sanctification.
The Higher and the Lower
"The
higher does not stand without the lower," Lewis reminds us. We must learn
to walk before we can run. In spiritual terms, this means developing a habit of
adoring God in everyday moments before we can fully appreciate His grandeur on
grander occasions. Everyday pleasures—patches of sunlight in a wood—reveal
something about the sun that books on astronomy cannot. These simple joys are
"patches of Godlight" in our experiences.
Daily Bread and Heavenly Bread
The
same principle applies to our requests. While the Gentiles seek earthly goods,
Jesus does not tell us to stop praying for such gifts. Instead, He instructs us
to seek God's kingdom first and pray for our daily needs. This balanced
approach is evident in the Lord's Prayer, where the request for daily bread is
surrounded by petitions for God's name to be hallowed and His kingdom to come.
This
framework helps us avoid the manipulative prayers that Jesus condemns. Rather
than trying to trick God into fulfilling our desires through pious requests, we
should bring our genuine needs and anxieties to Him directly. Our daily needs
are real, and we are taught to ask for them honestly. By doing so, we allow God
to moderate and refine our desires.
Prayers for Daily and Heavenly Bread
By
beginning with our actual needs and anxieties, we can move beyond them, seeking
God's kingdom as our highest good. Just as gratitude for earthly blessings can
lead to adoration, prayers for daily bread can lead to prayers for heavenly
bread, for the bread of life.
Your Heavenly Father
Central
to all these prayers is the goodness of our heavenly Father. We don't need to
use empty phrases because our Father knows our needs before we ask (Matthew
6:8). We don't need to anxiously pursue earthly goods because our Father knows
we need them (Matthew 6:32).
Recognizing
the goodness of beginning where we are and asking for daily bread is crucial.
When we pray for specific provisions, we not only receive the blessings but
also experience the kindness and care of our Father in heaven. By starting with
our current needs, we connect with a God who knows our needs before we ask and
loves to give good gifts to His children (Matthew 7:11).
Conclusion
"Begin
where you are" is a transformative principle for prayer, helping us avoid
the pitfalls of worldly prayers and false spirituality. By starting with the
tangible blessings and needs in our lives, we can foster gratitude and
adoration, leading to deeper spiritual growth. As we bring our genuine needs to
God, we invite His refining presence and experience His loving provision. In
doing so, we align our hearts with His will and experience the fullness of His
goodness and grace.