Erin Word, Cindy Bryan, and Lyn Hallewell have started a synchroblog with the topic of prayer called How Do You Pray? – They have invited everyone and anyone to participate, so I decided to take part.
I recently wrote a post over at Life… in the Journey about prayer called What About Prayer? hopefully I will not regurgitate the same stuff, but I am sure I will touch on a few of the same ideas. This post will be more geared towards what I do when I pray.
When I was taking classes as Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary I had a professor read Mark 1:35 to us, which says, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” The class was told that, as future pastors, we should be doing the same. We need to be getting up early in the morning and praying then.
This is NOT how I pray.
What I mean is, I do not have a rigid “God Schedule.” I understand Jesus prayed at this time because he wanted to, not as a prescription for us today, but as a description of what Jesus did in this situation. I do not believe in a legalistic pattern for speaking to God. I see my prayer life as a continuing conversation with God. So, with all that out of the way, this is how I pray.
- I pray when I am hurt, when I am happy, and when I am indifferent.
- I pray with my eyes closed, I pray with my eyes wide open.
- Sometimes I watch others as they pray and consider the words they are saying.
- I pray with my head bowed, I pray with my head straight, and I pray facing up.
- I pray over my food or I don’t.
- I pray in my head, I pray speaking out loud.
- I pray in groups, with groups, and in solitude.
- I pray when something important has happened, is happening, or is about to happen.
- I pray early in the morning, I pray in the middle of the day, and I pray right before bed.
- I pray when I feel urged to do so.
- I pray when someone asks me to do so.
- I pray when I desire to do so.
Most importantly, when I pray, I ask that God’s will be done and I pray that he would glorify his name regardless of me.
This is how I pray.
Excellent! Thank you Lew, I’ve really loved reading your post. I always think it is funny how Christians legalise everything, didn’t Christ die to free us from law and bondage? Yet we place more upon ourselves.
Lew- thanks so much for participating! Your words bespeak the freedom in Christ that he tried to hard to teach. I wonder why we insist on trying to make it so hard and so ritualistic when God just wants real?
Lew,
Its funny, but I’ve noticed that you don’t speak to me in legalistic ways either. We just talk… maybe we should just talk to God too?
-Alan
Great post, Lew. I like how you pointed out that there really isn’t any “set” way to pray, it’s really just about being responsive in the moment to whatever prayer opportunities come around.
thanks Lew, i think the important thing is to pray, not how, when or where :)
EVERYONE!
Thanks for the comments and encouragement.
Lyn
Legalism is much easier than trusting Christ. I am actually planning on writing a post about that issue.
Cindy
I think a lot of it has to do with that fact that we are scared of the unknown. Like I said in reply to Lyn, it has a lot to do with trust. If we get into a ritual we think it will be “easier” but in reality, as you have pointed out, it is much harder.
Alan
I think you’re right! Or maybe we should start talking to each other more legalistically!
Erin
Prayer was a very hard thing for me until I realized this. I never knew if I was doing it correctly. Then I realized that we were suppose to have a RELATIONSHIP with our father, he’s not some distant God who will destroy us for wanting to build that relationship.
Paul
I think we obviously agree :). Imagine going your whole life living with your parents and never speaking with them. Not because you weren’t aware that they were there, but because you didn’t know how to approach them.
Luckily we have a father who is both approachable and wants to be approached.
Thanks again everyone for commenting! I appreciate it!
God’s Glory,
Lew
Hey-God speaks through blog comments. When I read the comment that said to imagine not talking to your parents because you didn’t know how to approach them: God, by His Spirit said to me, ” You were fearful to approach your parents,like that, Patti. That is why I have much grace in your being afraid and clumsy in approaching Me. As I show you my trust, and you open up to it, you will be able to indeed come Boldly to my throne of grace because you will have confidence that I, the Grace giver, will meet and welcome you there.” WoW!!!!!
Patti,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It is great that God can use an off-hand comment to reveal some truth to someone. I’m glad to have been used for such a cause.
God’s Glory,
Lew
P.S. Sorry for the late reply – been having internet troubles.
you know, we have moved away from saying the ritual blessing over our meals … sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. It means more now … before, it was just empty words. I love being able to just listen to how the spirit is leading at that particular meal.
Imagine someone trying to engage you in a conversation by reading to you from a script. Or, only communicating with you at certain times of the day, or week and never at any other time. Suppose there was no spontaneity in your conversations with your spouse or loved one? Wouldn’t that cause you to wonder about the relationship? Can’t we imagine that we frustrate God by our approach to communicating to and being communicated with by Him?