As a journalist I have lots of little compartments and files on various subjects. The hope is I will eventually write an article on all those topics. One can always hope. The info I’ve gathered and tucked away on prayer overflows. Even trying to organize it is overwhelming. So I’ve decided to do a blog series on prayer. The next few blogs will be devoted to some of this info I’ve collected. Spoiler alert: There may not be a natural flow from one blog to another. So those highly organized readers looking for that type of blend should beware. It’s just going to consist of a myriad of stuff (poems, sayings, thoughts, one-liners, my articles, etc.) on prayer, a vital tool that keeps us connected to God. Let’s get started…
The Bible is full of exhortations to pray. Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer. (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28, etc.) If Jesus who was the Son of God felt a need to pray, how much more should we feel that need? We would be wise to follow his example. (1 Peter 2:21)
It’s interesting to note that the disciples did not ask Jesus to teach them to preach; they asked him to teach them to pray. (Luke 11:1) This is especially interesting considering the Jews were not strangers to the concept of prayer. In fact, the Pharisees thought they knew how to do it perfectly. They were diligent with the mechanics of prayer, making it a ritualistic exercise the common man could never hope to achieve.
However, the disciples discovered from hanging around with Jesus that something was missing in this kind of prayer. There was no sincerity or “heart” in those prayers. For true prayer is a heart to heart conversation with God. There is no need to make prayer a complicated process. It is merely heartfelt communication with God. God yearns for us to talk freely and spontaneously with Him – in our own words. We don’t need eloquence, meaningless repetition, or excess verbiage. (Matthew 6:7)
Jesus encouraged his followers to pray. (Luke 18:1) Paul went so far as to say, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Why? Perhaps there can be more to prayer than just communication…
Prayer is a conduit to building a relationship with the living God. We can’t build a relationship with someone we don’t spend time with.
Our heartfelt prayers acknowledge God’s greatness and our desire to have him lovingly rule our lives. Prayer shows our dependence on God. Prayer shows our love for God. Prayer shows our reverence for God. Prayer puts our trust in God.
Prayer changes us. As we pray we draw near to God and he draws near to us. (James 4:8) We are humbled by God’s presence. He is great and we are not. In God’s presence we are less anxious. In God’s presence there is strength, peace and calm. (Philippians 4:7) Our perspective on life changes as his thoughts become our thoughts.
Martin Luther said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible that to be alive without breathing.”
Much more could be said, but hopefully this is enough to get us started thinking about what prayer is and why we need to do it.
