How did the act of speaking to God become so complicated?
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.” Luke 11:1 (NIV)
How to pray has been a question posed since Biblical times. Jesus’ disciples asked him to teach them to pray. What better one to ask?
When I think about the model prayer Jesus gave, I’m awed by the simplicity of the words yet how those few lines encompassed so many areas of one’s life with such few words.
Bookstores are burgeoning with books on prayer and my shelves are lined with more than a couple I must admit. In fact I was reading Confessions of a Prayer Slacker by Diane Moody just yesterday. But I wonder does our intellectual pursuits of reading and talking about prayer leave us void of the business of actually praying.
Selah.
Questions for Reflection
Are you doing more research about prayer than spending time in prayer?
Is wanting to improve your prayer technique wrong? Can we actually improve our praying?
How does one balance learning about prayer with the act of praying?
If someone asked you, how would you teach them to pray?
photo credit: Moayad Hassan via photo pincc
What Others Are Sharing About Prayer
- Lord Teach Us to Pray: Posts So Far (godspace.wordpress.com)
- Why Are We Surprised When God Answers Our Prayers? (bepatientwithme.wordpress.com)
- How you can go from “saying” your prayers to “praying” your prayers… (rcspiritualdirection.com)
- Nothing less (mustardseedbudget.wordpress.com)
- This prayer will change your life (marydemuth.com)
- 5 Fingered Prayer (pinki-alabasterboxministry.blogspot.com)
My friend it has been a minute since I’ve visited with you and many of my other blogging sisters in Christ! I’ve missed you!!!
I am so glad that I could get here today and see your beautiful blog makeover! Probably not new for you but new for me 🙂
I love your post Wanda. It strikes the cord of exactly the topic that is most important to my Christian journey — prayer. Doing it not just talking about it and reading about it. I confess however, that there were many years (youth, young adult and into my early adult years) when I did MORE talking about it, reading about it and watching others do it then I did engaging prayer myself until that day; long ago when the Holy Spirit convicted me about something I did a lot in my twenties…
People would tell me their struggles or that of their loved ones (way before I fully realized the call God had on my life); and often many of them saved and non saved would say, “would you pray for me? or would you keep my _____ in prayer?” and I would tell them that I’d pray for them and the moment they were out of sight one of two things would happen. I’d either forget to pray for them or the needs of their loved ones or I would give some quick, non-heart committed prayer like, “God you know what’s going on with them, so please help”. Now there is nothing at all wrong with that prayer in and of itself but what the Holy Spirit showed me was that my heart was not in it…my faith was not active in that prayer. It was sort of a pray quick so I could genuinely say that I prayed and then move on to the next thing I had to do.
At around 28-30 years of age (I’m just a few years from 50 now) when the Holy Spirit convicted me of this and I repented is when He opened full speed ahead, the call God had on my own life. With all my heart I pray for God to keep me in step with Him and when I fail He is quick to confront, challenge, convict and comfort me to keep me on tract in any area including my prayer life because it’s a journey…a beautiful and challenging one and we all are a work in progress — no perfection but we have the Hand of the Perfect One upon our lives.
Sorry for the long answer but it’s been a while since I’ve popped in so please have mercy on my lengthy comment 🙂 I wanted to answer your other questions but I’ll just say, I love you and glad to pop in. I’m praying for you now as I exit…
Thank you Lisa for your prayers and it’s always a pleasure to have you stop by. There’s no comment length rule around these parts :). I appreciate you sharing your personal experience. It helps me and others to know that those we further along in this faith journey have or have had the same struggles. Those questions are the ones I pondered this morning as I thought about prayer. At times I feel ill-equipped for the task of prayer. Yet I have been amazed by how He has prayed through me when I get myself out of the way.
Thanks for the blog compliments. It’s still a work in progress as I’m always tinkering with it but I like the changes thus far.
At times we all feel ill-equipped and that’s why I’m so thankful for the Holy Spirit who is alive in us and working in and through us dear friend! Love and blessings!
Lisa Shaw recently posted..Much better than "cash for gold"
Who switched you from blogger to wordpress? Are you liking the experience? I’m considering it.
Lisa Shaw recently posted..Much better than "cash for gold"
Hi Lisa, I actually moved my own blog from blogger to WordPress. It took some getting use to my I like it alot. I’m a bit of techie so I enjoy playing around with all the backend options.
Wow! That’s awesome Wanda!
Lisa Shaw recently posted..Much better than "cash for gold"
Wow! That’s awesome Wanda! Thanks!!
Lisa Shaw recently posted..Much better than "cash for gold"
Hi Wanda,
This is my first time here and it won’t be my last. This is a wonderful blog, with wonderful insight. God bless.
Hi Angela, so nice to meet you. It’s always a pleasure to find out blogging believers. I look forward to getting to know you.
Wow….you always give one precious points to ponder~
I agree, we need to just let your words come and release our feelings.
Books on how to pray…?!
Thank you for sharing!
@>——–
I like the new set up 😀
ella recently posted..Surprising Art Technique
Yes, Ellie there are book on the subject of prayer. It’s another one of those things I think can be so simple that we humans over complicate. Hope you enjoyed a great weekend. Thanks for the compliment my friend.
just one more beautiful reason I love Him so
…simple and transparent and humble and a yoke
that is so easy and light
it sort of takes my breath away
and then gives it back again
rich and full and slow.
oh thank you Lord:)
and thank YOU for the nourishing stir,
Jennifer
Jennifer Richardson recently posted..the music of me….
Jennifer you have such a beautiful way of expression. Hope your upcoming week is a great one.
Wanda, the primary thing about prayer is to be open. This generation, much like the crowd Jesus was speaking to had been shrink-wrapped by religious rules. Jesus wanted them open…open hearts and open minds, communicating with God. The Lord’s prayer (unlike any other) is simple and direct. It touches on everything that is necessary (the holy Name, the Kingdom, the will of God, daily provision, forgiveness, protection, eternity) without using unnecessary words. The Lord’s prayer is very much a one-with-God communication. There is no power more available to us than the ability for each of us to directly intercede to Our Father and Jesus wanted them (us) to understand and connect to that source.
LaVonne recently posted..The Assured Life