The Pastor's Corner

Becoming a Person of Prayer

“Honestly, this is the one area of my Christian life I struggle with the most,” writes Kathy. “Just when I think I understand (prayer), I get more confused.” Sean agrees, adding, “I did not pray much for many years.” Judy admits, “Sometimes I get overwhelmed at all the prayer requests.” And Vanessa explains, “I believe we all have trouble with prayer.”

Most agree that prayer is a struggle. We know we should pray for them, but prayer can feel so unsettling and ineffective.

For nearly seventy years (okay, that made me feel old), I have listened to the prayers of church people. As a result, I become quite good at anticipating which catchphrase or cliche’ they are about to use.

“Our most gracious heavenly Father.”

“Lead, guide and direct.”

“Bless them, Lord.”

“Bless the food to the nourishing of our bodies.”

“In Jesus most precious name.”

Ah, the jingles we juggle when we pray.

I don’t think I am far off by suggesting many of us pray like Peter spoke. At the transfiguration, Peter suggested they build three tabernacles, one for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. Why did he suggest something so irrational? Luke 9:33 tells us, “Peter … not knowing what he said” spoke. Do your prayers ever feel like that?

Actually, when it comes to prayer words are not as important as you think. There is something far more important.

Preparing for Prayer

Prayer takes preparation. I’m sure you know that. But, what preparation? Prepare to be surprised. There are no less than four passages clearly revealing principles for preparing to pray.

“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you,” John 15:7.

• Staying Connected. “Abide,” “meno,” emphasizes the importance of developing a comfortable at-home connection with Him and His Words. We do this through familiarity. Familiarity with Him comes through mindful awareness of His presence. Some of the most intimate words in Scripture are “Enoch walked with God,” Genesis 5:24. Prayer does not take you into His presence. Being in His presence takes you to prayer.

“But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord,” James 1:6,7.

• Stay Trusting. What or Who do you trust in? We often place our trust in the answer. If the answer does not come, we struggle to believe that God really cares. Daniel’s three friends, facing the fiery furnace offer a different perspective. “If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up,” Daniel 3:17,18. It is obvious that these men believed in God more than they believed in their deliverance. Never doubt God’s character. Never lose confidence in His ability.

“Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts,” James 4:3.

• Stay Focused. The word “amiss” is “kakos,” sick or diseased. Many, may be most, of our prayers are diseased. They are full of what we want, but what does God want? “Nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt” (Matthew 26:39) is not a meaningless cliche’ tacked on the end of a prayer. “Not my will, but Thine” is the essence of who we are as followers of Jesus. Prayer is not about a consumer looking for an easy life. It is about a disciple searching for the Master’s will. Jonathan once confessed, “I am using prayer as a celestial Christmas list of wants.” He is not alone.

“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much,” James 5:16b.

• Stay Godly. “Effectual fervent” (one word in the Greek) speaks of exerting great energy when praying to God. If you focus your effort of prayer, but are not a “righteous” person, your prayers have a low ceiling. The great strength of prayer is in the godliness. We must stay focused on the thing that matters more–a godly life. I would rather have a godly person than a silver tongued person praying over me any day.

After reading these principles, Melissa commented, “Personally, I’m gonna have to work on a lot of changes in this.” Melissa, so am I.

Facing the Future; Fulfilling the Mission. –Rick Metrick