When I was a
child, I believed that prayer was something that had to be learned. I was
taught specific words that needed to be memorized. Once I had learned them, I
could easily recite them over and over again.
If I didn’t
learn the written words of a prayer, then I couldn’t pray.
For many
years, I truly believed this was the only way to pray by using someone else’s
words or prayers. But the prayers were stagnant, and I got very bored with them.
In fact, as I
would repeat the memorized words (whether aloud or not), my mind would always drift
away. I’d find myself thinking about everything else, except the prayer!
My prayers had
become automatic, and almost robotic! Let me emphasize again, this was my
experience growing up. What was yours?
I always
thought that God was not too happy with me because of my mental drifting while
praying. I didn’t do it on purpose. I couldn’t seem to stop it! In fact, this
still occurs at times. I believe it’s inevitable in our busy and noisy world. But back then, I believe it occurred moreso because the prayers didn't real mean much to me.
“When I was a child,
I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child, but when I grew up, I put away
childish things.” (1 Corinthians 13:11)
As a young
adult, I began to wonder if I could learn to pray on my own — differently — but
I didn’t know how. So I looked for books on prayer. I found a book at the time that
had prayers in it. They were different than the prayers I knew, but they were
still someone else’s written words or prayers.
I continued
to wonder. What if I could use my own words to pray to God? Was it possible?
What would I say? What could I say? I didn’t know.
It’s quite ironic
now, as I write my own words in my attempt to share with you why prayer is so
very precious. I’m much older now, and hopefully much wiser!
When I first
heard someone pray aloud in their own words, it was actually quite startling! It
was very foreign to me. This was different — altogether different.
To me, this
prayer was obviously coming from a place of sincerity, yet it was so strange to
hear it. The prayer was being expressed from their own thoughts into their own words.
In that
enlightening moment, my understanding of prayer began to take on new meaning. I
realized that I could pray in my own words, too! I could also express my
thoughts into words to pray to God!
All I had to
do was convert the thoughts from my own mind, from my own heart, and express
them into my own words! How novel!
Prayer no
longer needed to be a certain set of words written by someone else!
I realized
that prayer was simple and honest. At some point, I also realized that prayer
was not just about making my own personal requests to meet my own needs and
desires. I began having a desire to pray for others, and I also began to see
the positive results of those prayers being answered.
I even began
praying for God’s will in my life, instead of my own selfish desires. I wanted to
praise God and worship Him, as I had never done before.
Prayer is so
very precious! We are to pray to the Lord with sincerity and humility.
For: “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to
all who call on Him in truth.” (Psalm 145:8)
When we call
on the Lord, we begin to pray. Honest prayers come from truth and a heart that
seeks God. Truth, along with the grace of God, gives us the ability to talk to
Him, even when we feel we don’t deserve it. Come as you are right now to God.
Praying is simply talking to Him!
I discovered
that prayer is a huge part of having a relationship with God. I could spend
time Him, the King of the world! I could actually be in His presence. We could
spend time together!
Our Creator wants to spend time with you, too! God also desires our heart. He created you and me to be in relationship with Him. A precious time of prayer and communion with our Savior fills us with joy and peace, and purpose.
As we open
our heart and our minds to God, He fills us with the words to speak. Can you
believe it? You don’t have to try to figure out what to say, as He will provide
everything! He changes us slowly, but certainly. All we have to do is be
willing.
God fills us
with the desire to thank Him, to praise Him, and to know Him.
Do you love
God? He loves you dearly!
For: “God is love.” (1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16)
We all want
to spend time with those we love. You want time with those you care about —
your parents, your spouse, your friends. God loves us and wants time with us,
too! He wants your love as well.
Time with God
gives us the strength to walk in His ways. The Word of God, the Bible, guides
us.
His Word reveals to us that we are to: “Look for the Lord and His strength. Seek His face always.” (1 Corinthians 116:11)
How? By
actually seeking Him and His will in prayer. By spending time with God.
By making time to do His will and determine our purpose to fulfill it —
for we all have a Godly purpose.
God is not some
far off King in His royal kingdom. No! God wants us to come into fellowship
with Him — to be close to Him. God is our Heavenly Father who wants us to know
Him by seeking Him daily, by studying The
Bible, and by praying to Him.
Jesus Christ,
the only begotten Son of God is our Savior. We can call on Him to help us to be
obedient to Him through prayer. We can choose to give Him praises and be
thankful.
“Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and
into His courts with praise: be thankful to Him and bless His name.” (Psalm
100: 4)
Prayer really
is quite simple. There’s no need to make it complicated.
For if: “We confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
No matter what we’ve done wrong in our life, we can confess our sins to God and ask for His forgiveness through prayer. Although, we must repent, which means to turn away from the sin we’ve committed and turn our heart toward God, He gives us the strength to be obedient. It may or may not be overnight, but God begins changing us from the inside out, creating holiness within us through His sanctification process (see previous blog entry on “Sanctification”).
The Bible is
clear: “Therefore, confess your sins to
each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a
righteous man is powerful and effective.” (James 5:16)
Did you read
that? The prayer of the righteous “man” is “powerful and effective.”
We need to
seek God through prayer for empowerment. Man is referring to all mankind — all
people, both men and women.
Prayer can be
continual, all day long. We can talk to God any time, or all the time. We can
tell Him everything. He wants to hear from us!
“We are to pray without ceasing.” (1
Thessalonians 5:17)
We must also
learn to be still for God to communicate with us in His own special ways,
whatever they may be. We need to read the Bible, pray for guidance, and we can expect
God to give us His direction.
“Be still in the
presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act …”
(Psalm 37:7)
“Be still, and know
that I am God! …” (Psalm 46:10)
To follow
Him, we must listen in love for His leading. We need to stay on His path and in
prayer.
We are to: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant
in it with thanksgiving.” In other words: “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
(Colossians 4:2 and 4:6, respectively)
Patience in
all things, especially prayer is a true blessing, while always thanking our
Heavenly Father.
“Do not be anxious for anything, but in
everything by prayer and humility, and with earnestly request and, with
thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.” (Philippians 4:6) –
Everything means everything! We need to pray about everything in our life.
We can
certainly make requests from God, but they should be asked with humility and
seriousness. We should be thankful in advance of our request. We need to learn
patience in waiting for God to answer. We must have the right motives with our
requests.
Because: “When you ask, and you don’t receive, it is
because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your lusts
(those things that will give you pleasure).” (James 4:3)
Yet, Jesus
Christ said to those who don’t believe in God, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children,
how much more will your Father who is in Heaven give good things to those who
ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11)
Therefore, “If you ask the Lord with the right motives,
and your heart is pure, He will answer [your prayers]. If you seek Him with all your heart and soul, you will find Him.”
(Deuteronomy 4:29)
Prayer is
precious. Pray with faith. Pray without doubt. Pray for the right things and
your prayers will be answered.
Jesus said, “You can pray for anything, and if you have
faith, you will receive it.” (Matthew 21:22)
Until we virtually meet again, may God call you to Himself.
God’s Word for Today: “The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” (1 Peter 4:7)
Copyright © 2014 by Patricia Shehan
All
scripture is quoted from various translations of the Holy Bible (God’s Word).
