My friend and Navigator colleague Henry Clay is one of the best pray-ers I know. I remember when he was called on at a conference to lead us in prayer for one of our leaders who had cancer. Henry paced back and forth across the front of the room saying something like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lord, we ask that you would heal our brother. We don’t know what you want, but this is what we want: Sam is a leader, and he’s making a great contribution to advancing the Kingdom. He has many years of service left in him. Please heal him. <\/em>– Henry Clay, praying for Sam Hershey <\/p>\n\n\n\n That was more than 10 years ago, and Sam is doing fine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I asked Henry in private what his prayer secret was. He quoted Job:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, that I knew where I might find Him, That I might come to His seat! I would present my case before Him, And fill my mouth with arguments. (Job 23.3, 4, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n My first response was, “We don’t often get good instruction from the book of Job!” Henry said, “Maybe, but every time in the Bible that someone makes a case, argues with God, God seems to appreciate it.” Abraham bargained with God in Genesis 18<\/a>. Moses interceded for the Israelites in Numbers 14<\/a>, making a case based on God’s reputation among the nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Then I read a familiar text in a new way:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4.6, NIV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n “Present your requests to God.” I read that as making a case. And I’ve been known to write long letters making a case for some action. So I can do this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is not to say that every time we make a case to God or some other authority, we get what we want. I was lobbying for a particular decision in the Air Force once, and after about the third letter, the colonel said, “Bob. NO. Give it a rest.” I tried it during my prostate siege<\/a>. “Lord, I have people I’ve had to cancel, people who want to meet with me. Here are their names. Shouldn’t I get well faster so I can do what you’ve called me to do?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n Instead, it dragged on, and I got this text from a friend:<\/p>\n\n\n\n I really appreciated how you consistently related your prostate issue to the Psalms. It was all faith all the way and never a lack of confidence. It really inspired me as a model for things I’m anxious about. I often think of a phrase I heard in church “Let go and let God” and it was useful for me to see you do this over months.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n So maybe that’s one reason for the delay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, I’m trying to remind myself to “make my case,” “present my requests.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n But I would speak to the Almighty, And I desire to reason with God. (Job 13.3, NKJV)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" My friend and Navigator colleague Henry Clay is one of the best pray-ers I know. I remember when he was called on at a conference to lead us in prayer for one of our leaders who had cancer. Henry paced back and forth across the front of the room saying something like: Lord, we ask … Continue reading Pleading Our Case<\/span>