Permission to Pray

I remember a day of great relief mingled with humor. I was sitting in a spiritual formation class with a professor whom I greatly respected. He made a comment about getting God’s permission to pray. That was intriguing, I had never thought about having to get permission to pray. I soon understood what he was talking about. He said basically, have you ever wanted to pray something about someone who was "doing you dirty" but felt guilty about how you wnated to pray? He gave us his solution: “I pray the Psalms. I figure if it is good enough to be included in the Bible as a prayer it’s OK for me to pray.”

I know he was saying that tongue in cheek, but across the years, I have found more than a little solace in joining King David as I prayed for my enemies. Today’s Psalm (35) is an invitation to do that. You ought to read the whole thing, but I think you can get the flavor of what I am talking about in the first 8 verses:

1. Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me.
2. Take up shield and buckler; arise and come to my aid.
3. Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me…
4. May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
5. May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6. May their path be dark and slippery, with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7. Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
8. May ruin overtake them by surprise — may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.

As I read those verses, I thought about people who have hurt me or my family in the past. Then, my mind went to that classroom and that professor of many years ago. “Lord, I want to pray Psalm 35 along with King David!”

But, quite honestly, I didn’t get permission to pray that way. I seldom have. As a matter of fact, the prayer of another King – the King of kings! – was the prayer that I needed to pray: “Forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors.” And the instruction I needed to hear was not from a college professor, but from the Son of Man on the mountainside: “But I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”

I am not trying to brag here. I am repenting. I was chastened by the Holy Spirit, as I received permission to pray: “Lord, you have forgiven me so much. I forgive them. I pray that those who have wronged me will find peace and love. Amen.”

Friend, you have permission to pray…