Looking beyond the Horizon

Praying may only take a few minutes.  However, what happens when you are finished? Does the content of your prayer slip away from you during the day?  How would it be if you when you prayed early in the morning, you were constantly on the lookout for God to come through for what you prayed.  This type of praying makes it blend in with the rest of the day.

Jesus has promised us that our prayers would be heard and they would be answered.  Are you always on the lookout for that answer?  Are you willing to take the long view with prayer?

Doesn't this anticipation  make it all the more worthwhile for us to pray?  We know that this activity goes well beyond just the few words we might speak at the time of the prayer.  We are waiting for God to come through and are continually watching.

I believe if your interest in prayer stretches beyond the actual time of praying, your day will be more interesting.  You never know how God will come through with a response.  You wait and watch for God's surprise.

A Life Consumed with Prayer

Life is fragile.  We never know what can happen.  We can have everything planned out for a vacation, for instance, and then something goes wrong.  Your luggage gets lost by the airlines.  Your car breaks down, even though you had everything checked out before the trip.

Life is filled with uncertainty.  We notice, too, how unrest can flair up suddenly in countries around the world.  Even despite our best diplomacy, something can still go wrong.

This is the world in which you and I live.  Perhaps, we need not be filled with anxiety over it.  We can feel that we are not entirely out of control.  We can believe that we will be not defeated.

I ask you:  How much is prayer a part of your life?  It's possible that everything can seem to be routine.  Everything seems to be stable in your life.  Yet, you cannot predict what can go wrong.

Prayer is a way for you to claim your walk with God.  God is "with you."  In prayer you are ever remembering this fact.  You are also placing your faith in the one who has complete control over history.  Won't you want to walk this path for your life?

A Loving Prayer

Have you ever stopped to take a good hard look at the style of your prayers?  Do they seem to follow the same structure day after day?  Do you try to get quickly to the point?  Do they seem to be very formal?

As we do think about prayer, we must think about the person to whom we are praying and the relationship that we have. In praying to God, do you feel aloof or do you feel close as if you can have an intimate conversation?

Consider that Jesus gave us the commandment to love God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  That means that even in our praying, we ought to have prayers that reflect being in a loving relationship with God.

I have at times found myself praying in a business-like way.  I wanted to just state exactly what it is I needed and not say much more.  Upon further reflection, I realized that I also need to be expressing how much I appreciate God being willing to hear my prayer and also for the great love and mercy that has been shown me. 

Think about your own praying.  Does your praying reflect being in a loving relationship with God? 

Prayer and Follow-up

Here is the postcard that we use to send to folks for whom we are praying.  They get to be reminded that we are praying for them.  On the card we ask them if they wish for us to continue praying for them.  Maybe their circumstance has changed and wish to be taken off our list.

An important thing mentioned on the card is that we do read the names of people we pray for aloud during our worship.  We believe that each individual is important before God.  I believe that this should make an impact on the person for whom we are praying when they read this.

With this postcard we are doing our follow-up to prayer.  How much follow-up do you do with your own praying?  If praying for someone, do you inquire from time to time how things are going for this individual.  For someone to know that you continue praying for him or her can be a big source of strength.

Praying in Secret

Here is the slogan on our outdoor sign for this week.  The words are based on Jesus' teaching on prayer as found in Matthew 6:6, "But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret." 

I realize that much of our praying is done in church publicly; and, of course, you may be one who prays at home where it is a more solitary experience.  Jesus is stating that we are not to make a show of our praying and praying in secret is a way of safeguarding this posture.  The Pharisees were known for praying in public in order to be seen by others, and you might say prayer was misused.

When you pray in secret there are advantages.
1. You are removing the temptation to develop pride about yourself from any outward display.
2. You are open to your own self-examination and have the time to do it.
3. You are open to pour out your heart to God without fear of criticism from others.
4. You are in a venue where you can listen to God, and prayer becomes a dialogue rather than a monologue.

Think about where you pray and how it works for you.

 

Making a Wish

This slogan appeared recently on our outdoor sign at church.  We might wish for many things in life - some of them being nothing more than a pipe dream.  Usually, when we do have a wish, we are hoping  for something big.  While there is something big that we desire in life, there, too, might be a smidgeon of doubt that it will actually materialize.  In the end, it only remains a thought that comes and goes.

Let me tell you how your wish might come true.  Put your wish into a prayer.  Do you believe God is big enough to handle what you want?  If so, you have the resource that you need.

I believe that it is a sad fact of life, that there are many things for which we do not have, because we haven't bothered to ask God. The book of James says, "You do not have, because you do not ask."  James 4:2.

The next time you are daydreaming, think about what you really desire in life that would bring value to you.  Think, too, about committing yourself to a life of prayer.  Ask for it.

Finding the Solitude for Prayer

Finding solitude for prayer can be challenging.  If you live in the country, it might be easier than if you live in the city.

Jesus himself found it challenging to find the right spot for prayer.  St. Mark wrote about Jesus:  "In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.  And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, 'Everyone is searching for you.'"  Mark 1:35-36  Where can you go where there will be peace and quiet, and where there will be no interruptions?  For most of us, it's not easy in today's world.

I find it challenging myself even when at home.  There always seems to be noise from a construction truck, noise from the fire truck going down the street, and noise from a neighbor that infringes on the solitude I am seeking to achieve when I want time with God and for prayer.

At least, I do think that we need to find a suitable place where we can bring our attention to God.  If it has to be at home, then we need to discover the best time of day.  It isn't easy and there will always be a myriad of forces trying to impinge on our private time with God.   Be ready to overcome it and make that divine connection - regardless.  It will be well worth it.