Volume 11 Week 42 October
16, 2004
Some Ideas For
A Step Forward In Prayer!
Our Father Commands Us To Pray & He Promises To Hear & Answer!
St. Paul said it simply: "Pray continually" (1 Thess 5:17). The people who stuck the numbers on the verses did it right this time. That's the whole verse, and it's plenty. It's not the shortest verse in the Bible. It may be the fullest!
I've heard the life of a Christian described with two words: "Pray," and "Obey." God has done his saving work in the waters of baptism, in the calling of Christ, in the cleansing of sins and the gift of faith that believes eternal life with God, beginning now, has been accomplished, given, assured, and is ours.
Our task in response to God's love is a life of obedience and discipleship, but it is so hard for us, sometimes, to understand and know the will of God. So we pray, and we obey.
When a Christian is filled with God's word, rooted and grounded in the Lord's promises of hope and blessing, God will guide and lead. Too often, the missing factor in a life of dynamic discipleship is a life of prayer, especially the "Pray continually" kind of life that Paul advises.
I hope you'll read on for a couple of simple suggestions to help you take a first step, a step forward, or a step in a new direction for your prayer life.
And I'm not suggesting that my own life of prayer is in the Hall of Fame category. Maybe that's just as well. I often use the example of Ted Williams, the baseball player. They say that he was such a natural at hitting the baseball that he was a lousy coach. He couldn't understand why younger men couldn't just walk up and pound the ball!
When it comes to prayer, I'm no Ted Williams. I'm learning to pray the hard way, through discipline and daily practice. My prayer life doesn't just flow from my soul like the song of an angel. I work at it.
And God is teaching me, slowly over the years, new adventures in prayer that I am convinced you can have too! The following are some of the things I have done over the years to learn to pray.
Luther's Advice!
A friend wrote Pastor Luther, asking him how to pray. Luther responded with a heart felt, personal letter with a brilliant suggestion. Pray the prayer our Lord Jesus taught us to pray!
The Lord's Prayer could be the most abused prayer in the history of our faith. Think of the millions of times God's children have rambled through the words without even thinking! But Luther offered his friend a wonderful idea that has helped thousands over the years grow in their life of prayer: pray it s-l-o-w-l-y.
With your catechism in hand, guiding you through the "What does this mean?" of each of the seven petitions, use the Lord's Prayer as a guide for prayer. Yes, it can be said in thirty seconds, but it can also be said in thirty minutes, or any length in between.
Take the petitions one by one. "Thy kingdom come." Pray for your personal witness to Christ and his work in our church and the Church throughout the world. "Daily bread." Thank him for the blessings of body and life, and present your needs to your loving Father. "Forgive us our trespasses." Seek God's forgiveness for yesterday's sins and his guidance on relationships needing restoration. "Deliver us from evil." Pray for those in need because of disasters, and for protection in your spiritual warfare with the forces of Satan.
This simple guide can be the beginning of a deep and rich life of prayer, and is always on the tip of your tongue.
One note about wandering minds: on my daily prayer cards, I have written an outline of the Lord's Prayer in one word petitions. I find that by keeping my finger and my eye on the outline, I don't get so distracted, but work my way through the prayer.
And one other suggestion before I leave the Catechism: you have in your hands an outline for daily worship also. Begin with the Ten Commandments as you confess your sins and seek God's mercy and grace. Recite the Apostles' Creed as you are re-confirmed in the gift of life and grace and blessing. Then pray the Lord's Prayer, slowly, and go about your day!
Prayer List!
Most days, but not always, I follow a prayer list. I keep it written on a bundle of 5X7 cards, one for each day of the week, as well as my daily list. I have two sets, one in my quiet spot at home, one in my briefcase. Ask me, I'll show you.
By carrying around the cards, the list developed for me over the span of a couple of years. I update it from time to time, but it is a list that has served me well. It's the things God placed on my heart for which I believe he wants me to pray daily.
Each day, after a time of worship and renewal in his love, I pray for my family, for members of the church with special needs, for prayer partners, for our Sunday time with the Lord, for the mission and vision of God's work at Mount Calvary, particularly as we reach out to the community and for leaders in ministry. Then I pray for my walk with God (a note on the card reminds me it is not a "run" with God). Then I turn to each day's list, Monday through Saturday, which are our caring ministries, Bible studies, confirmation students, staff, leadership and other pastors.
On Sundays I pray in the church at the "early-early" service before you arrive.
Put a note card in your pocket or purse. When God reminds you of something or someone for whom you should pray, write it down. See what praying through a list each day can do.
Books!
Some people do better with a written devotional guide for prayer. One that I use from time to time is called, "Face to Face" by Kenneth Boa. It's a 93 day (three months of 31 days each) guide for prayer, leading you through daily petitions and worship with prayers based on scripture passages. any of the various volumes he's developed are very inspiring and useful if you would like a more structured guide to your life of prayer.
And you can also pray the scriptures on your own. In your daily Bible reading, select a short passage from the Bible, read through it slowly, carefully a couple of times. Make some notes, ask what God is saying to you through this passage, and then use the scripture as a guide for your prayer. Whatever God is speaking about, you can pray about.
I hope these simple suggestions are an encouragement to you. The best advice is simply, "Pray." Dedicate yourself to a daily prayer time. Ask if God is calling you to spend a little more time with him than you have in the past. But mostly, begin. And if you miss a day or so, begin again. God knows your weakness. He knows we're all just learning.
So remember his promise: "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will" (Romans 8:26-27).
God himself makes your prayers a powerful force. How about a prayer right now?