A few weeks ago, a young man in our congregation asked
me, “Pastor, what do you do when you don’t know how to pray?”
Try this. Take a deep breath, inhaling, then blowing it out slowly. That breath
may have seemed like any old collecting of nitrogen and oxygen and expelling of
carbon dioxide, but it was the breath of life.
Prayer, too, is the very breath of life.
When you don’t know how to pray, hold your Bible and breath meditatively. There
is the breath-giving truth of aliveness within its pages. When you don’t know how
to pray, read a Psalm or a verse from this book of life and breath it in. Jesus
is the word that became flesh and dwelt among us and now lives among us. Romans
8:26 says this “the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit intercedes for us…” Breathe and let the Spirit pray
for you!
At times, however, we are just called to listen and hear what God has to say. Through
listening, we want to develop a hearing heart that discerns God’s voice. Prayer
has as much to do with hearing God’s voice as it does with speaking our own voices.
In times of trouble or worry, sit in silence and let your heart listen. Clear the
other “stuff” off you plate and from your mind...and wait. Listen.
God speaks through the Word, through people, and through direct leading of the Spirit.
People who are really interested in hearing from God learn to discipline themselves
to be still before God (Psalm 46:10).
That wonderful song of faith shares “what a privilege it is to carry everything
to God in prayer.” It is an honor to be able to speak to God. We don’t have to go
through an intermediary. We don’t have to follow prescribed rituals. We don’t have
to wait for an appointment. We don’t have to use fancy words. Just talk to Him.
Anytime, anywhere under any circumstance, we can come to God in prayer.
Just some thoughts from one brother in Christ to another that might be helpful to
us all. Blessings on your journey of faith!!!!
I’ll see you Sunday,
Blessings,
Pastor Mark
(July, 2008)