The SimplyRevised Podcast
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I have talked with Christians who, like me, desire to draw closer to the Lord. How, though, can we accomplish this? How can we walk closer to the Lord and honor him each day? In this series, we are discussing 3 Healthy Habits that can help us accomplish this goal. Prayer, Connecting In Community, and Engaging the Scriptures are three habits that can help us draw closer to the Lord. In this article, we consider the importance and practice of prayer.
If you struggle with prayer, you are not alone. Many Christians struggle with daily prayer. How do we pray? What do I ask for in prayer? When do I have time to pray? Prayer is not always easy, and it's helpful to understand that even the disciples wanted to learn from Jesus how to pray as he did. They asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John taught his disciples.
Luke 11:1 (NIV)
"One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples."
In a desire to move closer to the Lord and walk faithfully with Him, prayer must be a consistent part of our lives.
Communication
A simplistic way to think about prayer is communication with God. Prayer is talking with the Lord. If you are new to prayer, you might think of this like talking with a close trusted friend. As with any relationship, growth cannot happen without communication, and drawing closer to the Lord will not happen without prayer.
Some examples we find in Scripture of praying include:
Praying for others (Col. 1:9-12)
Offering the Lord our praise (Ps. 148:13)
Confessing our struggles and sin to Him (Ps. 32:5)
Crying out to the Lord for strength (Ps. 18:6)
Each of these is ways in which we communicate with the Lord through prayer.
A Daily Rhythm
Make prayer a daily rhythm in your life. Depending on your stage of life, you may have more or less time. For example, a young mother with three small children may have less time than someone older with an empty nest. Even though you may be pressured for time, prayer still needs to be part of your day, and it may just be a quick prayer in the shower. If that's where you start, allow yourself the grace to start there and develop that daily rhythm. Remember, prayer is not a guilt trip. Instead, we desire to draw closer to the Lord.
In prayer, Paul expresses the idea of maintaining continual fellowship with the Lord (1 Thess. 5:16-18). Jesus prayed in different places and at various times. Jesus prayed in the early morning (Mk. 1:35), in the evening (Matt. 14:22-23), and at night (Lk. 6:12). The time we pray is not as important as finding a time in our day to pray. Some enjoy the early mornings, others the evenings. The important thing is to find the best time for you.
Each Day (x3)
Another practice and rhythm for prayer may be to pray three times daily. These prayers may be short and specific. Pray each morning when you wake up. As we get up, we may offer a quick prayer thanking God for our rest and recovery. Pray in the afternoon. As I go about my day and interact with others, there may be needs expressed by co-workers or persons we passed in the grocery store. Afternoons are a good time to consider others. Pray for those at church, friends, and loved ones on our prayer list. Pray in the evenings. Reflect on the Lord's blessings and abundance at the close of your day. Thank Him for His steadfastness and unfailing love.
Yes, But?
Prayer can be a struggle when it's something we are not in the practice of doing. If you struggle with the words and need a place to start, consider the words of Jesus.
Jesus spoke about the practice of prayer in (Matt. 6:9-13). Christians have recited this prayer for many generations and over lifetimes. Perhaps you, as I did, struggle over the words we should express in prayer. I suggest following the words Jesus offered to His disciples. Open your Bibles, read and reflect on Jesus' words. Memorize the words of this prayer and consider how they could be applied daily in our lives.
Matthew 6:9–13 (NIV)
This, then, is how you should pray:
"'Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
Communication is vital for any relationship. Prayer must be part of the daily rhythm in our lives if we desire to draw closer to the Lord.
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Blessings!
Steve