Where Did You Learn To Pray? - Kip Shuford, Pastor, Springfield First United Methodist Church

 Kip Shuford is a dear friend and brother, who was my Employment Manager at a local bank in Baton Rouge, LA during the late 70s thru the late 80's.  He was one of the "religious fanatics" that I persecuted during this time, so his witness is true.  He stood the test of Blumstein the monster, never flinching and continued to serve faithfully.

"So, I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish?  Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him" (Luke 11:9-13)! NRSV 

Where did you learn how to pray? Our parents may have taught us bedtime prayers or said grace before meals. Maybe you heard about prayer in Sunday school and church sermons. We may have even taken a class on prayer. For many, our knowledge of prayer has been obtained in bits and pieces.

Prayer is one of the most misunderstood and misused practices of our faith. Praying for an answer or healing will often leave us frustrated. The truth is our thoughts about unanswered prayer are usually about a misunderstanding of what prayer is. Many people believe that if they say the right phrases or have the proper technique, they can persuade God to answer their prayers. But prayer is not rubbing a magic lamp. It is not presenting some Santa Claus in the sky with a list of things we want. Prayer is intimate communication with our Lord. It is as natural as turning around and speaking to a friend. More importantly, it is being quiet and still and listening to God and being transformed by what he communicates to us.

Prayer is vital, for how can we expect to be in a relationship with God if we do not communicate with God? Jesus taught us this lesson. In the Gospel of Luke, you will find Jesus praying consistently at every turn in his life.

•          He prays as he senses God's call on his life.

•          He prays before choosing his disciples.

•          He prays as he serves and heals other people.

•          He prays as he feels the demands and pressures of his ministry.

•          He prays as he faces the cross; He prays as he finishes his work on the cross.

Jesus is continually praying. Prayer for him was as vital as taking his next breath. Jesus knew that to live out the life God called Him to live, He needed to be continually connected to God in prayer; God was the source of His power.

            May 13, 2013, was a date of extreme consequences for me. I received the devastating news that I was diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. The name itself is misleading, as there is nothing normal about Hydrocephalus. Finally, there was an explanation for the loss of my mobility and memory. The source for my indescribable headaches was discovered. The solution? Brain surgery. There is no cure, but several options can facilitate the reduction of fluid and pressure in the brain.

            The surgeon's decided a "Third Ventricular Endoscopy" was the best option to attempt. The procedure called for drilling a hole in my skull and carefully creating a small opening near the base of my brain. This small opening would provide an outlet for the cerebral spinal fluid to exit the brain.

            The surgery date was set. God provided some extraordinary occurrences during difficult trials. Prayer warriors established an all-out prayer vigil on my behalf. Thirty-five friends and family were waiting for me when my wife and I entered the hospital waiting room. They created a spiritual wall that surrounded me as they laid hands on me and asked God to guide the physician's hands and protect me from all harm. The power of the Holy Spirit filled the hospital waiting room, and it was noted by the many people watching God work on me.

            The procedure was completed with no complications. However, the surgeons were unable to create a hole large enough to reduce pressure within the brain. Unfortunately, a second brain surgery, where a shunt and drain tube would be implanted, was scheduled three months later.

            The second surgery was more traumatic than the first, and there were several issues we were made aware of. There is a small chance that I could contract meningitis as my brain would be exposed to the environment, and that is what happened. The pain of the surgery magnified by the agony of the meningitis was debilitating. I must admit that there were moments where the going became very rough. There were days that I writhed in agony, rolling from one side of the bed to the other. There were no pain medications that impacted the level of discomfort.

            My daughter's wedding was four weeks after this second surgery, and here I am in extreme pain, unable to walk, my sight was impaired, I was unable to hear much of anything, and eating was the last thing on my mind. With so many obstacles facing me, I never lost hope in God's promise to heal me. I laid in bed and never became angry about the situation I found myself in. I prayed, and I prayed often. The weekend before my daughter's wedding, I received a Holy Spirit communiqué. I am lying in bed Saturday afternoon in the dark. Both physically and metaphorically. I perceived people in my bedroom. Suddenly, I realize my daughter has climbed onto the bed on my right side and has placed her hand into my right hand. To my delight, I realize my soon to be son-in-law climbed onto the left side of my bed and put his hand in my left hand. They just laid there with me, holding my hands, in a Holy Spirit moment. It was magnificent, and I gave thanks to God for the gift.

            Persistent prayer pulls us closer to God Almighty. We discover as we move closer to God in prayer, we realize we do not get what we want from God. We get something better. We get what we need. We get what God desires us to have. Prayer keeps our eyes and ears, and hearts open to seeing God at work in our lives. It helps us learn to recognize his voice. It helps us to see his footprints so we can walk in them. 

Through God’s grace, I can report that I could walk my daughter down the church aisle on the day of her wedding, and I danced the Father/Daughter dance at the reception. Unfortunately, I was still experiencing the agony, but God's Grace allowed me the opportunity to participate in a beautiful family event.  

The point of my story is to invite you to trust God. When we pray, we make our requests known unto His wisdom and His goodness greater than our own and then trust that the way He will respond is not like the indifference you might receive from a neighbor. Still, the response will come from the heart of a heavenly parent who loves us better than we love ourselves and knows in the profound sense what is best for us. Are you still wondering about your unanswered prayers? God has an answer for you. But whatever your request, know that God's answer will always involve your heart being changed by his love. To God Be the Glory!