I woke up thinking about the talk I have to give next week.  Out loud, I said the phrase, “Bathe it in prayer.”

That’s such a “religious”, overused phrase.  It’s become almost cliche.  Another sentence to throw on the pile of Christian jargon.

But like most cliches, these types of phrases DO hold truth and at one time were a fresh idea or word picture.

So I decided to give “bathe it in prayer” a second life.  Another look.  A deeper thought.

The first thing I think of when I think of the word bathe, is when my kids were little and I’d give them baths.  The water had to be just the right temp – not too hot, not too cold, but just right – so that they could sit comfortably through the whole process.  And then I’d go to work.

Bathing doesn’t mean just sitting in the tub getting only your toes and tushy wet.  I would take cups of water and pour them over the kids’ heads to wash over their hair, their faces and down their necks.  The bar of soap would come out and I’d lather it in my hands before going over all their limbs and backs and tummies.  Then they would lay, full length, on their bellies and flip over to rinse off any soap bubbles that remained.

After every part of them was soaked and cleaned, they were able to sit and play with their toys in the tub.  The party after the business. Fresh and clean and happy.

Immersed.  What if the things that I “bathe in prayer” were like that?  Fully immersed.  What if my prayers for any given situation (in this case, my talk) were used not just for the end result, but for the entire process?  The cleaning – of my heart.  The soaking – of any fear or anxiety.  The scrubbing – of polishing and refining what I will be presenting.  The lathering – of thoughts for the women who will be attending.

Baths were not meant for rushing.  (Ask any woman who would love to run a bubble bath at the end of a long day!)  Bathing in prayer should carry the same connotation.  Time well spent in preparation for the final outcome.  Prayer being the deep, claw-foot tub where we place anything that occupies our minds and hearts.  A place for a good cleaning, a relaxing soak, some necessary scrubbing and ultimately a beautiful outcome.

I think my perspective will be a little different this morning as I spend some time working on my talk before the kids wake up.  I will envision prayer as my soaker tub, warm and soothing with some glorious bubbles just for fun :-).

1 John 5:14-15 – And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him. 

Philippians 4:6-7 – Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.