The other day I came across the suggestion of keeping a prayer journal. I have to admit that I haven't done so in the past. However, the thought of such an activity did pique my interest. Here is how I believe such an activity might be helpful.
1. You can put in writing what you are praying for in order to help articulate your thoughts (writing works toward clarity).
2. You can notice any kind of prayer patterns that are taking place in your life.
3. You can check off any of the prayers that you feel have been answered in some way.
4. You can pray through writing!
I believe, above all, that such an activity helps us to see not only that our prayers are important but also that we can notice where God is breaking into our lives.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Even before You Ask
How often do you feel you need to lay out all the details before God in prayer? Maybe it is that you need to cover every angle so that God really understands your particular request. Might it be that you fear God just "won't get it."
When Jesus was talking about prayer to his disciples, to told them that they did not need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7) Jesus said, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Amazing, that God knows what we need even before we ask! We have an all-knowing God who deserves to be praised not only for this high knowledge, but also because of the heavenly concern for us as sinful beings to even want to listen to us.
Here's the point. We don't have to lay out every detail before God and worry about whether or not we have said it right. God knows the very depths of our being and for what it is that we are asking. Our few words of prayer can have great meaning.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples about their heavenly Father knowing even before they ask, Jesus immediately gave them a model prayer to use in what we know as the "Lord's Prayer." Surely, you can use this prayer if you do not know what to say.
However, we ought to feel encouraged that our requests with as little words as possible are known to God!
When Jesus was talking about prayer to his disciples, to told them that they did not need to heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do. (Matthew 6:7) Jesus said, "Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him."
Amazing, that God knows what we need even before we ask! We have an all-knowing God who deserves to be praised not only for this high knowledge, but also because of the heavenly concern for us as sinful beings to even want to listen to us.
Here's the point. We don't have to lay out every detail before God and worry about whether or not we have said it right. God knows the very depths of our being and for what it is that we are asking. Our few words of prayer can have great meaning.
When Jesus spoke to his disciples about their heavenly Father knowing even before they ask, Jesus immediately gave them a model prayer to use in what we know as the "Lord's Prayer." Surely, you can use this prayer if you do not know what to say.
However, we ought to feel encouraged that our requests with as little words as possible are known to God!
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Praying the Psalms
You may have noticed that for many weeks, I have been using references from the Psalms. What is special about them is that they are Scripture where we learn about people speaking to God rather than God speaking to us.
As we scan through the psalter we find a rich treasure of how people have expressed themselves to God. We find the whole range of emotions - fear, anger, guilt, anxiety. We also find the many desires that people many centuries ago were willing to express to God.
We even find that Jesus prayed the psalms. While on the cross he quoted from Psalm 22. He may even have prayed the entire psalm.
When you are at a loss for words or want to deepen your prayer life, I would encourage you to turn to the psalms. You will find people who have faced the same feelings and emotions as you have.
As we scan through the psalter we find a rich treasure of how people have expressed themselves to God. We find the whole range of emotions - fear, anger, guilt, anxiety. We also find the many desires that people many centuries ago were willing to express to God.
We even find that Jesus prayed the psalms. While on the cross he quoted from Psalm 22. He may even have prayed the entire psalm.
When you are at a loss for words or want to deepen your prayer life, I would encourage you to turn to the psalms. You will find people who have faced the same feelings and emotions as you have.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Someone Else Is Praying - Part II
Last week I wrote about the person of Jesus praying for us. We know that in heaven our prayers are put before our very Creator by the Son of God.
There is yet more praying going on in heaven for us. The apostle Paul wrote these words: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes* with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26
Even when we feel that we are at the end of our rope in praying, even when we feel that we don't know how to put our request into words, the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede on our behalf. The Spirit communicates in a way that we would not understand, yet is known to God.
I find it marvelous how the Holy Trinity comes into play in terms of praying. Imagine thousands, even millions of people throughout our world praying for one particular thing. That is not all. We are even given a boost knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along.
The next time that you bring a request before God; know that it is not just your own words - it is not just a human endeavor; but in the heavenly court, your request is known and communicated to God!
There is yet more praying going on in heaven for us. The apostle Paul wrote these words: "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes* with sighs too deep for words." Romans 8:26
Even when we feel that we are at the end of our rope in praying, even when we feel that we don't know how to put our request into words, the Holy Spirit steps in to intercede on our behalf. The Spirit communicates in a way that we would not understand, yet is known to God.
I find it marvelous how the Holy Trinity comes into play in terms of praying. Imagine thousands, even millions of people throughout our world praying for one particular thing. That is not all. We are even given a boost knowing that Jesus and the Holy Spirit are there helping us along.
The next time that you bring a request before God; know that it is not just your own words - it is not just a human endeavor; but in the heavenly court, your request is known and communicated to God!
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