May the Fourth Be Prayerfully With You

As May the Fourth approaches, fans of the “Star Wars” franchise are gearing up to celebrate their favorite sci-fi saga. But for followers of Jesus, this day can also serve as a reminder of the importance of prayer and faith. While the Force, as presented in the “Star Wars” universe, is merely a fictional source of power and energy, it can also be a helpful metaphor for prayer and its powerful role in our spiritual lives. 

“May the Force be with you.” 

When we pray, we often ask God to be with us and guide us in our lives. But sometimes, we forget that God's presence is already with us. Obi-Wan Kenobi taught Luke Skywalker about the Force, saying, “It surrounds us and penetrates us; it binds the galaxy together.” God is much more than a Force but a personal and all-powerful living being. However, like the Force is described, he is everywhere at once. We may not always be aware of his presence, but he is there. Prayer, then, is not only about drawing closer to God, but also about becoming aware of how close God already is.   

“The light…it’s always been there. It will guide you.” 

In the “Star Wars” universe, the Jedi must trust in the Force to guide their actions and protect them from harm. Similarly, as believers, we must trust in God to lead us on our path and protect us from the dangers of this world. When we pray, we can ask for the grace to trust in God's plan, even when we don't understand it. Maz Kanata described the Force as “the light…it’s always been there. It will guide you.” But we have much more than a fictional and impersonal energy to guide us. We have the living God who loves and cares for us. Let him guide you and trust him as he does.

“If once you start down the dark path…”

In his dying breath, Master Yoda warned the young Skywalker to avoid the dark side, saying, “If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.” The dark side represents evil and temptation. As believers, we face similar temptations in our daily lives, as we are constantly tempted by sin and the ways of the world. However, when we pray, we can ask for the strength to resist these temptations and stay true to God's will.

“You must unlearn what you have learned.”

Just as the Jedi trained to become strong in the Force, we must train ourselves to become more faithful and prayerful. Prayer requires discipline, practice and a willingness to learn. When we pray, we can ask for the discipline to set aside time for prayer each day, the practice to make it a habit and the humility to learn and grow. Master Yoda warned that “you must unlearn what you have learned.” And the same might be true of your prayer life. Read the Bible to see what it says about prayer. Learn from others who are practiced in their prayers. You will see that you can always learn and grow in prayer. 

“Always pass on what you have learned.”

Another important note Yoda gave Luke Skywalker before he died was to “always pass on what you have learned.” The Jedi are not just concerned with their personal growth but with sharing their knowledge and skills with others. Similarly, as believers, we are called to share our faith and the love of Jesus with others. When we pray, we can ask for the courage and opportunities to be a witness to others and to share the hope and joy that comes from our relationship with God. 

I pray you will sense God’s presence as you do whatever he calls you to do. If you can calm your mind and still your soul, you will hear God’s gentle guidance. He speak quietly, but he is there and he is speaking. Let him guide you! He will show you the things you must unlearn, as well as the things you must learn. And when you have learned those things, pass them on!