Praying Is Like Going to McDonalds

This past Sunday I was teaching about the Holy Spirit and prayer, and I had an epiphany.

I don’t know that I’ve ever had an epiphany before, and I don’t know if I will ever have one again; but I had one the other day and I want to share it with you now.

We were preparing for a time of togetherness as a congregation and I began to address the reservations that some people have about praying out loud.

Let’s face it; some people would rather have a root canal than pray out loud in public.

Sometimes it’s because they are in a room of strangers, but I believe that it is mostly because we do not think we are doing it correctly. So, this revelation that came to me served to be effective and here is how it went:

You know, praying is pretty simple, really. We complicate the issue and allow it to make us anxious, but for the most part it’s a lot like…well; it’s a lot like going to McDonalds.

No really…think about it for a minute. If you are hungry and you pull into the drive through, you pretty much know how the routine is going to go.

First of all, you know what is on the menu, you know what you like, let’s face it…no matter what they add to the choices we all pretty much stick with the basics, so we have learned to just ask for what we need.

Next, you know that there is absolutely no way that you are ever going to be able to understand what the person on the other end of the speaker is saying to you. Even at a brand new location, the speakers are terrible. Have you ever ordered, then had the employee read it back, and you just had to go on faith that she got the order right? As you pulled around to the window you had a feeling that this experience could go either way. Well, you just learned to live by faith that God heard you; and that even though you may not understand His response, He in fact has responded.

Do keep in mind that requesting what you needed was a simple as just saying it out. And don’t forget that you just went through these motions out in public. Now let’s talk about intercessory prayer… a big word for something that can be confusing if you let it. Simply put, this is when you pray for someone else’s needs and not your own. This is when you “stand in the gap” for a friend or loved one; for a group or event.

Have you ever had a friend with you as you pulled into McDonalds, and as you finished ordering they realized that they might like to have something to eat as well? Usually they will tell you what they want, and you will repeat it out loud to the mystery person on the other end of the speaker. Guess what…you just learned how to intercede for someone. It is as simple as asking God for what they might need.

Now, you pull around to the first window and they want some money from you. Right here I would like to take the liberty to reveal to you that you just learned how to be a giver! No matter how low your bank account may be at the time you will joyfully hand over that money in an expectation of the food that you are expecting to receive. Heck…I’ve seen people with the car door open and half of their body hanging out, right there in the drive through, scrounging for change so that they would have enough money to pay for lunch! I wish believers had that much passion in their hearts when it came time to give to the Lord!

Now it’s time to receive! You get to the window, they hand you the bag, and you happily receive that which you have requested. Oh what joy shall fill my soul!!! You have just learned what it is like to ask of the lord and have Him answer! But wait! What if they give you something different and you don’t realize it until you drive away. Well, you just learned a little lesson I like to call God’s Will! You ask for two all beef patties special sauce lettuce cheese pickle onion on a sesame seed bun, with a large fry and a mocha shake; and God hands you a chicken salad with light Italian dressing and a juice. Just go with it…He knows what you need and He loves you; besides…maybe He is more aware of your cholesterol than you are!

Now comes my favorite part of all. When ordering, you ask for something real special…a custom order if you will; or you ask for a standard menu item and they are terribly busy. When you get to the window, they are not ready with it yet and they ask you to pull forward to the drive-through wait area until your order is complete. This will usually happen when you are in the biggest hurry! Then you sit there, and sit there, and sit there, and sit there. You just learned a lesson on how to wait on the Lord! He heard you, He loves you, He will answer you, and you will have to be patient.

I am convinced that in all things we must choose the do what the scripture teaches when it states that we should not turn away from the simplicity of the gospel. I have learned that when learning to pray…even to pray out loud, it can be as simply, and effective, as going to the drive through at McDonalds. God Bless!
Jason