His Light to My Path

Prayer is beyond anti-spam legislation

By Karla Hein

Several years ago, I attended a workshop on time management. The presenter had participants compare the number of emails clogging up their inboxes. Thankfully, my work life was relatively organized at that time! But I admit that I feel a little guilty now searching through my 20,000-plus email “filing cabinet.” I hadn’t meant for my personal emails to get completely out of hand.

I once downloaded an app with the sole purpose of unsubscribing from unnecessary mailing lists. Yet somehow, the number grows on. Sneaky websites request an email prior to downloading the perfect printable for next week’s Sunday school class. A political party’s membership kindles a steady stream of incoming promises and financial pleas.

Before I hit delete on an email (which surprisingly even I do on occasion), I first look for the unsubscribe link. Canada’s anti-spam legislation proved that it wasn’t just me with an e-mail proliferation problem. As I’ve considered my predicament, I’ve thought about how prayer is beyond legislation. No one can unsubscribe themselves from my prayer list. In fact, most people don’t even know they’ve been signed up, like that one guy from Telus.

Last winter, my phone bill had an unexpected long-distance charge. I didn’t remember how I incurred it and thought I could plead for a reduction based on my naivety. The customer service representative was a friendly fellow. As the ordeal dragged on, we began discussing goal setting and New Year’s resolutions.

“I can relate to what you’re saying because I have a March birthday too” he commented. He went on to explain our personalities based on an astrological sign. I disagreed.

“As a Christian, I believe in the Bible and there’s a verse that says, ‘A man makes his plans, but the Lord directs his steps.’ ” My husband gave me a funny look from across the room. “Are you still on the phone with Telus?” I admit that I’m not normally a telephone evangelist.

No one can unsubscribe themselves from my prayer list. In fact, most people don’t even know they’ve been signed up.

I sometimes wonder what Mr. Telus thought. Did he add a note to my account? Another crazy woman from rural Alberta! I like to imagine that I reminded him of a different Christian influence that had shared truth with him. Regardless, Mr. Telus was added to a prayer list he couldn’t opt out of. He was stuck there along with some miscellaneous ambulance drivers who drove past with sirens blazing.

Perhaps the grace of God will extend even to those on your prayer list defiant to Christ “for that is what some of you were” (1 Corinthians 6:11)! I wonder if subscribing those who persecute you is a version of heaping coals upon an enemy’s head because the prayers of a righteous person are powerful and effective (Matthew 5:44; Proverbs 25:22; James 5:16).

“In prayer we must not look to the merit of man, but to the grace of God” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible). Even in the action of prayer, I am dependent on God to do his will and not my own (Luke 22:42). My prayer list is open to subscribers for I know God works “to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” (Philippians 2:12–13).