Cries of Dependence and Delight
In his excellent book on prayer, drawing on centuries of wisdom about its purpose and power, Tim Keller steps into this dance between dependence and delight. He talks about the marriage of “kingdom-prayer” (asking God to work in the world) and “communion-prayer” (enjoying the presence and relationship of God). He writes,
The Westminster Shorter Catechism tells us that our purpose is to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.” In this famous sentence we see reflected both kingdom-prayer and communion-prayer. Those two things — glorifying God and enjoying God — do not always coincide in this life, but in the end they must be the same thing. We may pray for the coming of God’s kingdom, but if we don’t enjoy God supremely with all our being, we are not truly honoring him as Lord. (Prayer, 4)
The kind of prayer life that truly honors God is a prayer life that delights in God. When we ask, “Where is the Lord?” — in the wilderness and in prosperity — it’s because we want to know him, see him, savor him. And when we do, we might almost hear him say,
Be thrilled, O heavens, at this;
be elated, be utterly overjoyed,
for my people have relentlessly pursued me,
the fountain of living waters,
even when I gave them everything. -Tim Keller
For the Kingdom
Robbie
