Thought for today - 11/25/2013

ON PRAYER 
"Roy Lawrence, a vicar and adviser on prayer to a British bishop, says that we make a mistake to think that effective prayer must involve great effort. 'We think of it as hard work, as striving.... That is the way I myself used to think. In fact, often after praying for somebody's healing, I would find the imprints of my own nails on my palms because I had been clenching my fists so tightly as I agonized in prayer.' 

"Lawrence became convinced that prayer has more to do with resting than with striving. 'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,' Jesus said — or, as another translation has it, 'and I will refresh you.' For guidance on prayer, Lawrence now looks to the passage in John 15 in which Jesus holds up the image of a vine and branches. The branch bears fruit not by striving or agonizing, simply by 'abiding' or resting." from Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
by Philip Yancey