Today's Journal
WASHING MACHINE PRAYER
Recently I had a word in the night about Washing Machine Prayer. It all seemed innocent enough as I processed the parts of the word… but then again does prayer need washed and cleansed as we stumble along wanting ‘right’ habits in prayer? Maybe.As I recall, I saw Washing Machine Prayer was like our normal laundry with our automatic washers. First, we set the water temperature, hot, warm or cold…just like us as we go to pray. Next, we put in detergent to mix with the water… getting our hearts prepared to be cleansed. Then, a heavy agitation, with our thoughts, plans, cell phones, expectations, all getting a rough sloshing of readjustment with soap and hot water…agitated back and forth, forth and back. The beginning is the heavy soap… just like beginning prayer often needs time to penetrate our mental fabric. Now, it is time to rinse…to sling out dirty waste water from the agitation. Now, a second rinse, to really get the soap and sediment out of the fabric. In true prayer I would think this step is confession and repentance. Then, we spin the washed fabric of any remaining water. Spinning is a good analogy of finishing prayer. Finally, the clothes are hung out to dry (in the old days) or put in the dryer. This is the slow meditation of Washing Machine Prayer.
This is all getting a little soapy (and soupy) for me…
“And whatever you ask for in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Jesus