Sunday Evenings With JoniНамуна

Joni has an interesting way of praying. When she first explained it to me, I thought it was the world turned upside down.

She told me that early on in her faith journey, she taught herself to pray 80-20. As in —20% of her prayer time is about the problem and the remaining 80% is about God: asking Him what He wants to teach her, praising Him, singing a hymn, seeking how to trust Him in the situation, how to grow closer to Him, or simply thanking Him for His goodness.

Wow, I thought, only 20%?!

You see, when I prayed it was mostly about my problem. I would go on and on (as if God needed to be reminded…). And then Joni tells me that only one in five of her sentences is about the problem!

The world upside down.

This was many years ago, when she first told me this—and I’ve been learning to pray 80-20 too.

It has changed me.

I still tell God all my problems, but it’s become easier to leave them with Him, because before my amen, I shift my mind toward Him—away from the overwhelm, and toward the One Who knows, the One Who cares for me.

Yesterday (on day 3), we read that when all kinds of pandemonium broke out for the disciples, Jesus was asleep on a cushion. A cushion! Isn’t that a lovely detail, how Mark describes it? Jesus—calm, comfortable, unhurried. The very opposite of panic. Asleep on a pillow.

I really would rather focus on that—on His perspective—and not on everything that shakes around me.

Do not forget that He is in control. Everything that you will face today, tomorrow, at home, in your city, your country, your life, and the whole world, is safely in God’s hand.

Reflection:

1. Will you start praying ’80-20’ with Joni and me?

2 . Read Philippians 4:8. Take today to reflect on what’s true, noble, and pure. Whatever is praiseworthy, lovely, admirable, or excellent, think of such things.

Prayer

Dear Father, help me shift my perspective on You, away from my circumstances. For in You alone I find my refuge.

Amen.