Because He has inclined His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.
Psalm 116:2 (BSB)
This is a simple entry into the series of foundational Christian principles. Prayer is such a powerful tool of the Christian life, yet is so often neglected. Writing this has reminded me of the power and potency of a vibrant prayer life, and how vital it is to maintain our intimate connection with Jesus, so that we may abide in Him and bear much fruit. It is the umbilical chord that connects us to our Heavenly Father, and acts as conduit between the spiritual realm and our ordinary, everyday lives. Nevertheless, I find myself prone to forgetting the discipline of prayer, and sliding towards the habit of worry, which the Bible defines as an act of pride. Ouch.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God,
I Peter 5:6-7 NKJV
that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you.
However, when faced with the complexities of life, I sometimes find myself at a loss for how to pray. While deeply moved to intercede for heartbreaking world events, the suffering of family members, and the struggles of friends, when I sit with deep suffering, words fail me.
My bookshelf is full of books on how to pray for my husband, my children, my family, and my church and yet, I find myself more and more frequently returning to the simplest of prayers.
Sometimes it’s a simple arrow prayer, ‘Lord help me/them’. At other times, it’s praying in heavenly tongues for a few minutes, trusting the Holy Spirit to interpret the needs of the situation and intercede according to the will of God.
Now in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness;
Romans 8:26 (NASB)
for we do not know what to pray for as we should,
but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
Lately, I’ve been inclined to praise God and His Word. I thank Him for the wonders of His nature seen in Creation and the blessings of my family, the people I hold most dear. When I do so, I’m more moved by His presence to trust Him more freely. These are all good things to do.
But more and more often, I’ve been prompted to return to the way Jesus taught us to pray. The Lord’s Prayer is deceptively simple, yet profound in its inherent power. It encompasses both the sovereignty of God and the nature of fallen man. It asserts our dependence upon Him for our every need and seeks His provision and protection. It ultimately submits our understanding to His will, a vital act of faith. It is an act of surrender and promise, a tapestry of faith and need.
I am convinced that God hears every prayer we utter. Not only that, but His Word says that he hearts our prayers before they are even spoken. Even more amazingly, He listens intently to our heart’s deepest cries and when we can’t find the words or understand our own state of being, He steps in and prays for us with groans too deep for words. What a blessing to know that He is working for our good, even when we cannot find the words to ask for what we need.
Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.
Psalm 139:4 (NIV)
I wonder… what would happen if we committed to praying this prayer upon waking each day? What would happen if we taught it to our children until they knew it by heart? What would happen if we spoke it with our spouses each evening before bed?
Jesus knew the power of prayer and wanted us to know it too. He said to pray this way:
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.
When I feel pressured to find just the right words to move God’s heart, He reminds me to pray this way. Because it was never about us finding our own way into God’s heart.
It was always about Him making the way through the cross.
The mercy seat is waiting for the incense of your prayers.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer
Romans 12:12
Arise, fair one. 