Everyone prays. It may be a mumbled “help me with this test, help so-and-so be ok, I’ll do anything you want if you will help me”. We’ve all said them. You don’t have to be a Christian to pray. I’m sure at one time or another even the atheist has prayed. So, the subject of prayer is not a new concept for anyone. Let’s look a little more closely at prayer.
I do not claim to know all there is about prayer. There are mysteries of prayer that we may never know. There are promises of prayer that are revealed to us. I am thankful to belong to a praying church and that people pray for me. In a class I am taking, we studied prayer. There were some things that I realized were missing from my prayer life.
Timothy Keller broke down the basis of prayer as adoration, submission, petition and confession. I began to realize that when I prayed, I forgot I was in the presence of almighty God. I began to listen to worship music after my Bible reading. This enabled the adoration to flow. God wants to hear our petitions, but I began to realize that prayer is so much more than asking. It’s a connection and it takes time and it takes your breath away. My prayer life has changed and my time with God in prayer has changed.
I still get in a rut sometimes. When I have trouble praying, I will often turn to the Lord’s prayer or Psalm 51. I know nothing happens to me apart from God. Most important, I have a God who is alive and, on His throne,, listening to my every word. I count it a privilege to pray for others. I’ve seen prayer work. I know there is still more to learn.
Debbie