Hedonistic Prayers

So some of us were praying together at the church on Wednesday. That's the day we call the church to fast and pray. I'm asking, "What are you praying about today." One answer came from a young woman who is praying for a friend. Said friend grew up in Christian fundamentalism, which she ran away from a long time ago. After figuring out she could talk to men without going to hell (that didn't happen until she was well on the east side of 20 yr old) she has apparently forgotten those old passionately taught inhibitions. Now, with two Christian friends walking life with her, she's thinking about God again for the first time in about 8 years.

"How do I pray for my friend?"

1) Let me say first, thank you thank you thank you thank you for doing what you're doing. What normal people need (around the Athens Vineyard, we call 'non-christians' normal people. Which they are. We're the weird ones. You know, even Peter said we were a peculiar people, and holiness refers to people or things that are 'called out' and set apart from the norm. Well back to my thought . . .) What normal people need is to have Christian friends. Christians who choose them, and not as an evangelistic mark, but an authentic relationship. Even so, when you have a relationship, especially if you prove to be a good friend, you will have a voice they will listen to. So thank you for being a caring, steady, reliable friend for a young woman who will probably drag you through a few mudholes along the way.

2) The way to pray that seems right is to ask God to make everything fail that she is looking for to make her happy. You know, we pretty much always make decisions based on what we believe will make us happy. And if we believe that a relationship is going to do it for us, it's very difficult to believe that submitting to God (esp the bad experience God) is going to make us happy. We may feel guilty for not obeying him, but we won't be compelled to obey him if we don't think he will be the happiest choice. So to pray that all our other options will fail seems a bold and wise decision. Bold, because it implies that we are asking for someone to hurt, to experience failure, maybe heartbreak.

3) Then pray that God will manifest in some way as the one with the most promise. This will likely need to be presented by some Christian who understands grace, mercy, and exhibits lots of patience - all without judgement. Are there any of those around?