It's not like I don't pray. Nor that I don't pray much more than what I used to. Still my praying is paltry, deficient and lacking too often and too regularly.
More and more I recognize the importance of prayer, and I seek more and more to practice it. We can pray in the Spirit in all kinds of ways, and we need to.
I recognize that some things need prayer, and alot of it. It's good when we get others to pray with us on something. And when we join together for special needs. And we need to do it more together, not worrying at all about how we sound when we do it.
I like and use the weekly "collect" I've been posting on Sunday, from the Book of Common Prayer. I try to go over that several times a day along with "the Jesus Creed", "the Lord's prayer", and select passages- while I'm at work.
At certain times and occasions, more prayer than usual is needed. Jesus when living his days on earth seemed to spend much time in prayer to the Father. We are to do the same, to grow more and more in this practice of faith in this life.
Prayer is adding our amen to God's revealed will for us in Scripture and in Jesus. It is agreeing with God, yet it is also expressing ourselves before our Father: our struggles, problems, fears and needs. Coming boldy to the throne of grace to find mercy and grace to help us in our time of need.
I sense of one those times where I need to be in prayer and be growing in this grace of praying. We won't remain on the Jesus way or do well in God's will, unless we keep growing in our Christian life and walk, and prayer is one important aspect of it.
But don't get discouraged if you see no progress and even feel you're regressing. Remember, growth takes time, and there is necessary pruning along the way so that there will be times when we seem truly to be exposed and struggling along with straggling. It's important that we need to be awake and alert to what we are called to do, doing it when we don't feel like it and doing it when stirred by God's gracious working through the Spirit.
More prayer needed. Let's make this more and more our practice. What might you add to this to help us?
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16 comments:
I like your blog. As for this post...Prayer is a discipline to be learned.
The flesh resists prayer with all its ugly power. Other religeous activities are more acceptable than talking to God. Satan obviously doesn't want us to pray.
My 40 plus years has taught me, just pray. Prayer is a command to be obeyed just as when Paul told the Ephesians "let him who steals steal no more..." there is no debate, there are no options, just pray. Whatever that may mean to each of us individually we must obey to imperative, "Pray".
His peace,
Royce Ogle
It will soon be the weekend Ted! yipeeeeeee!!!
Learning to relax and let prayer happen in my life is one of my long lessons. Still learning it and will still be learning it until i die.
Great post brother.
I will pray, pray, pray!
Amen. I have nothing to add.
Prayer is so vital to our walks, and in my experience true prayer (thanksgiving, supplication, adoration) comes from a heart that is truly walking with the Lord and seeking to see Him glorified in our lives. Every part of our lives.
i agree.
good reminder, brother.
i will add...since you said that growth takes time...it is also true that by bowing down to God that He will heal our open wounds that we are holding onto... and that too takes time, time with God.
God bless you.
what's "double predestination"?
Royce,
Thanks. And I think you're right. I especially want to pray when I have the urge to. Kind of like riding a wave if one was surfing, I suppose. But just the same, we're to pray, period. Good advice, and a good way of putting it.-
Martin,
I happen to have an extra long one starting half of today through Monday, though semi a working one. Weekends are nice. Hope things are okay over there in Combe Martin.
Preacherman,
Thanks. Yes, I believe you will.
I'm reminded of a pastor who was so loved by his people- and by and by ended up going to Africa as a missionary. Well, each morning he would spend his entire mornings walking along the cemetery of the church, praying for the people under his care. He was not greatly gifted it seemed, but the Spirit was on him and God was blessing.
Things like that you don't forget. I just hope I can be as faithful in the way I need to be as part of the whole.
John,
Good words. Important that it's just a part of our walking fully and closely to the Lord. And together. Thanks.
Nancy,
Good thought about God healing our wounds and that taking time. I think he has done that in my life, even if some of the scars are still evident. And I would guess a certain measure of that is still ongoing for me.
Real Live Preacher,
Thanks for sharing that. I don't know how I missed you, though I read and appreciated your comment earlier.
What you say reminds me some of what I would think Eugene Peterson might say on the subject. We do need to relax and slow down and let everything else go by the wayside in this what you share.
Halfmom, AKA, Susan,
Double predestination is the Calvinist doctrine, I believe originally from John Calvin (has some Augustinian roots, though not drawn out as with Calvin) that God predestines certain human beings to eternal life, and all the rest God predestines to eternal damnation.
On the surface in passages this can look Biblical. But considering Scripture as a whole and all in light of the whole, as well as considering what the passages in question would have meant to the original readers from what we can tell and are discovering about that time- "double predestination" I believe is cast in a more than questionable light.
Here is this doctrine cast in the best light, I would think- from R.C. Sproul. And here's a general article on it; you'll find a small section on "double predestination".
i am told that the scars that are still there, they do not hurt like open wounds, and some scars fade over time, however, the ones that are still there can be seen by others that you went through a hard time and God saw you through, it is a witness to others that they can also trust in God to bring them through a similar hard time and will bind up their wounds.
Nancy,
Very good thought there, and encouraging and true. Thanks.
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