Yet even with this matter established in our minds, we must confess that prayer is too often a matter of weakness, frustration, and guilt for modern Christians. Why is this? Well, one reason is that we don’t really understand prayer very well. We haven’t been “schooled” in the basics and so when we’ve tried to put our ideas into practice, they fall flat. We end up either accepting an inconsistent mediocrity or we forgo prayer altogether – except in emergencies or when company is present and we feel the need to “say grace” at the dinner table!
There are other reasons for an ineffective life of prayer. We live divorced from an awareness of the supernatural. Yes, even Christians get used to thinking that life is a matter of self-sufficiency. Heartfelt prayers for daily needs, guidance, and strength are therefore foreign to us. Some also deal with a lack faith, or of ongoing sin in their lives which keep them embarrassed from coming to the Lord for a conversation. They may feel a definite unwillingness to hear what God may have to say or a fear that God will not “answer” their prayers the way they want.
The answers to these obstacles are actually quite simple but we have to seriously desire things to change in order for success in prayer to begin. Those answers are 1) become properly informed about prayer, and 2) start praying! Yes, get started. Even when it seems awkward or irregular, you must realize that you will never become confident and comfortable in prayer unless you start exercising what you are learning.
As you can guess, one of the most elementary lessons in the “school of prayer” is also the most necessary. You must become better acquainted with the God you’re praying to. Focus in on the wonderful truths that the God of the Holy Scriptures is a God of overwhelming and enduring mercy. He is always eager to listen to those who have by faith received Jesus as their Savior. Indeed, through the sacrifice of Jesus on our behalf, our sins are completely and forever forgiven. Thus we are guaranteed complete and immediate access to the Father. No penance is required before we pray. No workup of emotions. No religious bribery to persuade Him to give us a few minutes. No mediator is needed nor is any special sentiment or atmosphere. Our all-powerful, all-gracious Father is always there and eager to spend time with us.
Psalms 145:17-19 – “The Lord is righteous in all His ways, gracious in all His works. The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.”
1 John 5:13-15 – “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”
Job 22:25-28 – “Yes, the Almighty will be your gold and your precious silver. For then you will have your delight in the Almighty and lift up your face to God. You will make your prayer to Him; He will hear you and you will pay your vows. You will also declare a thing and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways.”
Of course, another critical element to learn about prayer is that that our purposes of prayer are often quite different than those of God. We tend to focus on “presents;” that is, what God can give us or do for us. However, His priority is “presence.” He wants us to find comfort and strength simply by sharing in His presence, experiencing a fellowship with the One Who saved us from the penalty of our sins and Who through “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.” (2 Peter 1:3) Spending time with God. Honestly laying your concerns and needs and ideas before Him even as you put your humble, confident trust in Him to achieve His glorious will in your behalf. That is the most significant and far-reaching of the blessings coming from prayer. Being occupied with God rather than being occupied by our questions and requests. This is how to be successful in folding prayer into day-to-day life.
As you diligently pursue the pilgrimage of prayer (as instructed in the Bible), your prayers will become more characterized by a love of truth, a willingness to obey His Word, heavy doses of thanksgiving and praise, intercession for others, deeper humility and trust, and an ever-growing intimacy with the Lord Jesus that sees you placing all areas of your life into His hands. Your prayers will be conversational – not ritualistic repetitions or stilted religious rhetoric. You will become comfortable with short prayers as well as longer conversations. You will find yourself looking for prayer opportunities – in the car, on the patio, in groups of Christian friends, in planned “devotional” exercises, and in spontaneous appeals for help or praise. Like in any relationship, your conversation becomes easier and more fruitful as you become familiar with the other person. And as the comfortability and significance of your prayer experience grows, so will your desire to live godly – in all areas of your life.
Now there are many, many more things to be explored about prayer – confession, vows to God, public prayers with one’s spouse and children (extremely important), and so on. But of highest value are those two things we underscored earlier – becoming better informed about prayer and starting in to build a stronger, more natural prayer experience. In both, cherish the fact that God is on your side and that He wants you to succeed in becoming more “conversant” with Him. Furthermore, He is a God of great grace Who offers forgiveness and fresh starts over and over again.
“Dear Lord, please help me to become better in my prayer life. Motivate me to ‘go to school’ on the subject through Bible study, help from Christian friends, and a renewed devotion to the adventure. And help me to embrace the grace that you give for my weak prayers of previous days and for the new, fresh power You offer me to start again and to become better in this key area of the sanctified life. In Jesus Name, Amen.”
