Word of Encouragement (1/14/2021)
Following is an extended quote from C.S. Lewis on what we have been talking about—the distinction between a monology and an actual prayer to God. I think you will find it helpful. As you read it, keep in mind that this is a devil speaking:
“Whenever they are attending to the Enemy Himself we are defeated, but there are ways of preventing them from doing so. The simplest is to turn their gaze away from Him towards themselves. Keep them watching their own minds and trying to produce feelings there by the action of their own wills. When they meant to ask Him for charity, let them, instead, start trying to manufacture charitable feelings for themselves and not notice that this is what they are doing. When they meant to pray for courage, let them really be trying to feel brave. When they say they are praying for forgiveness, let them be trying to feel forgiven. Teach them to estimate the value of each prayer by their success in producing the desired feeling; and never let them suspect how much success or failure of that kind depends on whether they are well or ill, fresh or tired, at the moment” (Screwtape Letters, Letter IV).
Do you see the insightful point Lewis is making? This is based on the method Satan used in tempting Eve and continues to do so with the children of Eve. He always tempts us to bypass God to get what only God can give us—that is, to seek and be satisfied with what is fake and counterfeit rather than the authentic blessings of God. God wanted Adam and Eve to be like God in knowing good and evil by thinking after God’s thoughts. Satan tempted Eve to be like God apart from God by doing what seemed right in her own eyes. Likewise, the genuine feelings of love, joy, peace, tranquility, clarity, etc. are what we experience when we are in communion with God. A Jewish rabbi said that God is like the sun and happiness is like the shadow. When we face God and walk toward him, happiness follows us like a shadow. But when we follow happiness, we will never catch up with it while getting farther and farther away from God. I like this illustration because it shows that happiness is not the real point; it is but a shadow and it is nothing without the warmth of God animating our souls.
The feelings we have mentioned are also like the shadow that follows us when we face God and get closer to Him. But when we chase after these things apart from God, we are led farther and farther away from God and we will never catch up with them. Whatever positive things we manage to feel will be without God’s soul-animating warmth.
This poses a great challenge for us, doesn’t it? Prayer is one of the most spiritual activities. Yet, what is it that we are seeking in prayer? Are we chasing after the shadow of happiness (in the forms of health, wealth, euphoria, etc.), even in prayer, rather than getting closer to God? It is not the feelings of tranquility and clarity we are seeking after in prayer; it should be God Himself. “For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matt. 6:32-33).