Prayers from the God Box

Prayer is an important part of recovery, prayer for a friend wallowing in addiction, prayer for those struggling in recovery, and for the will of God in one's life. Prayer is mentioned several times in the Big Book of AA; every open meeting I attend is opened with the Serenity Prayer and closed with the Lord's Prayer. In order to pray we need someone, or something to pray to. In recovery it is a Higher Power as "we have come to understand Him." At Recovery Worship prayer is an important, and lengthy, portion of the service. Step six says we were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character, and then in step seven, humbly ask God to remove our shortcomings, all of this done through prayer.

At Recovery Worship we have a "Turn Things Over to God Box," a locked box with a slot in the top and pieces of paper for people to write. I asked the folks at Recovery to write down those things they wanted to turn over to God. Things that hang over them like a piano hanging by a thread, concerns that keep them awake at night. Prayers for personal concerns, prayers for loved ones, or, if necessary simple comments concerning worship or anything they would like the pastor to know. I wasn't sure what the reaction to this little exercise would be: would anyone put a prayer concern in the God Box, my goodness was I wrong. As people came up for Communion people placed their folded sheet into the box, I was surprised! It looked like voting day in Chicago; people were stuffing the God Box.

On Monday I began reading the prayers from the God Box. I was amazed at the honesty and openness that I read on those pieces of paper. Prayers for healing, recovery, reconciliation, faith, forgiveness, prayers for children who are fighting addiction, prayers for estranged parents, prayers for forgiveness of adultery, the most touching were the prayers of thanks for the ministry of Recovery Worship. Children gave up prayers of healing for their parents; parents said prayers for their children.

One young woman came up to me and told me of her prayer request. She had recently lost her boyfriend and she had not been able to find closure with his death. I remembered reading her prayer on Monday. She told me of a dream she had, in the dream her boyfriend was sitting in a chair in front of a very bright light. As she walked over to him he stood up and gave her a hug. She was overcome by warmth that made her feel at peace, he turned and walked away toward the light. Through her prayer she has turned it all over to God's care, by writing the prayer down, walking forward in church and placing that prayer in the God Box she was able to find closure in her life.

The Turn It Over to God Box has become a permanent fixture in our sanctuary.

See you next Sunday!