August 13, 2003
Reading:
Luke 11:1-4
“Lord, teach us to pray” (1)
Over the years I have met men and women whose
prayers are so simple and flow straight from their heart. They speak with the
Lord as they do with a friend – no flowery language, no increase in the volume
of their voice, in other words, no pretence. To others, prayer does not come
easy, and I have no simple answer as to why. The desire to pray is in our heart
yet we find ourselves so easily distracted. Other things occupy our time and
before we know it, the day slips by without prayer. On other occasions, the
distraction comes while we are praying – how easily our mind wanders. Thoughts,
far from our mind, suddenly appear, and we wonder
“where did that come from?”
In the church in which I was raised, the
Prayer Book was used and, apart from the bedtime prayers my mother taught me,
was the only form of prayer I knew. Extemporary prayer was a concept I became
familiar with later in life. There are some wonderful, meaningful prayers in
the Prayer Book, but they remain the prayers of someone else. Better to read
these prayers than to not pray at all.
Someone once suggested the use of a “prayer list,” a list of subjects
to pray about and requests to be made. There is some merit in this idea as it keeps
us on track and helps keep our mind from wandering. Another suggested keeping a
journal of when certain prayers were answered, this is an encouragement as we
can look back and see how faithful the Lord has been, and that our prayers are
not in vain.
A method of prayer I find especially encouraging and uplifting is
praying the scriptures. It is so simple and yet can combine both the Prayer
Book and prayer list concepts. Turn to any portion of scripture and you will
find things for which to praise God and for which to pray. There are prayers we
can make our own simply by reading them, we can also join with the author and
lift our heart in praise and adoration to the God of our salvation.
Join with Habakkuk and commit yourself to God that, no matter the circumstance,
you will “rejoice in the Lord” (Hab
The more you pray the scriptures the more you will be able to pray
freely and consistently. I have found that praying the scriptures is like a
training ground; it teaches me how to pray and encourages my spirit. I find
myself in the very throne room of God, boldly yet humbly, without stuttering or
stammering, addressing the King of Kings who welcomes, even invites
me to do so. Prayer is like everything else—the more we engage in it the easier
it becomes. If Satan can keep us off our knees and out of the throne room of
God, he has achieved his purpose. It is there he is defeated, for it is there
we are strengthened and encouraged as we fight the fight and
run the race here on earth.
“Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our
Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep
of His hand” (Ps 95:6-7).