{"id":112,"date":"2009-08-26T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2009-08-26T05:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/prayerplainandsimple\/2009\/08\/praying-in-the-middle-of-misunderstanding.html"},"modified":"2009-08-26T05:00:00","modified_gmt":"2009-08-26T05:00:00","slug":"praying-in-the-middle-of-misunderstanding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2009\/08\/praying-in-the-middle-of-misunderstanding.html","title":{"rendered":"Praying in the Middle of Misunderstanding"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sometimes words don’t work. Sometimes the harder we try to make ourselves understood and to understand in return, the more clumsy and confused we become in our relationships. <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n

I had one of those experiences today. I needed clear communication with someone very close to me, but clear communication was the last thing we were getting. Static and noise and confusion and miscues and mistakes… I couldn’t say what I meant and I didn’t mean what I was saying. We ended heading off down some rabbit trail of confusion that led us to a tar pit of accusations and old dredged up resentments. Anyone out there relate? <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n

Sometimes I think that communication is really impossible. That’s why we need to pray. God began everything with words. In fact, Jesus IS the word. In short, God is a communicator and he can help us with ours. <\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b> <\/p>\n

When you’re stuck in a quagmire of miscommunication with someone, intercede and ask God to step in as translator and peacemaker. He’s an expert.  <\/span><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

He’s another piece from Mark’s Gospel about these wonderful wonder words of Jesus… and how we can turn them loose in the world.  <\/span><\/font><\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

“Be opened” (Mark 7:34)<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

“What blocks communication?” <\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

“The bladderman waggered plost the alton plicker in a mastish plog of ferderic.” Babel makes aliens of us all. We hear noises, but only vaguely comprehend. We make noises, and only occasionally make sense. Communication is not difficult, it is impossible… until Jesus comes to clear the white noise. <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

A crowd brought Jesus a lonely man who could neither hear nor speak. If he had been stranded on a desert island, he could hardly have been more solitary. Jesus pulled him aside… to be alone with him. He put his fingers in the man’s ears, spit on his own hand and touched the man’s tongue. No words were exchanged. Then Jesus commanded, “Ephphatha!” “Be opened!” Immediately the man’s ears popped. He could hear. The next moment, his tongue was loosed. He could speak. <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

“Be opened” was enough. “For him who has ears to hear, let him hear!” Jesus boomed. And so, the miracle of communication and relationship is granted. <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

The enemy separates us from relationships. Oh, how he hates Jesus’ words of love and reconciliation! He stuffs ears and numbs tongues, fearing the power of words to create, connect, and call things that are not as though they were. He dreads words that become fresh; so he snuffs them at their source, or muddles them in flight, or ambushes them at their destination. Until Jesus speaks in response! <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

Answer misunderstanding: “Be opened!” Answer miscalculation: “Be opened!” Answer mistrust and missed opportunities and missing friendship, “Be opened!” Answer deaf ears and muted tongues and deadened communication, “Be opened.” Say so! <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

Your mission: Listen for words falling to the ground. Watch for the dull expressions of confusion and the empty stares of imprisoned souls. See bewilderment and deception for what they are – lies from hell! Hear the silence of hearts who cannot hear clear truth. Then break that silence with the gift of a healthy relationship. Speak Jesus’ words, “Be opened.” Then step back and listen as the reservoir of dammed up communication breaks loose! <\/i><\/b><\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span> <\/p>\n

Question: “What blocks communication?” Answer: “Be opened!” <\/font><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/font><\/span><\/b><\/font> <\/p>\n

You can down load the entire Fight Like Jesus<\/em> ebook at <\/font><\/span><\/b>www.markherringshaw.com<\/a>. <\/font><\/span><\/font><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sometimes words don’t work. Sometimes the harder we try to make ourselves understood and to understand in return, the more clumsy and confused we become in our relationships.   I had one of those experiences today. I needed clear communication with someone very close to me, but clear communication was the last thing we were…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":200,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15,25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-112","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-prayer","category-jesus"],"yoast_head":"\nPraying in the Middle of Misunderstanding<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/prayerplainandsimple\/2009\/08\/praying-in-the-middle-of-misunderstanding.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Praying in the Middle of Misunderstanding\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Sometimes words don’t work. 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He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s the author of \"Six Prayers God Always Answers: Results May Vary,\" and \"Nine Ways God Always Speaks: Only Available in Certain States,\" both co-written with Jennifer Schuchmann. His third book is \"The Karma of Jesus.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d Mark is a native of Santa Cruz, California. He has studied at Azusa Pacific University, The Academy of Performing Arts, Cambridge, Ontario, and Luther Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. from Regent University. Mark and his wife Jill have four children. 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