Through the years as a pastor I have had people ask me more questions about prayer than about anything else. My observation is that most of us feel that we pray badly – that we don’t spend enough time or say things the right way or know best how to approach the Father. Our troubles are intensified when we have in mind what we believe God ought to do, and then He doesn’t follow our prayerful advice. It is so maddening, who does He think He is – God?
Even with all the questions, most people would just like to know how to pray better. It is with that in mind that I recommend the advice Philip Yancey gives in his book Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference? He suggests that the most significant thing we can do in prayer is to just show up. “The writer Nancy Mairs says she attends church in the same spirit in which a writer goes to her desk every morning, so that if an idea comes along she’ll be there to receive it. I approach prayer the same way. Many days I would be hard-pressed to describe a direct benefit. I keep on, though, whether it feels like I am profiting or not. I show up in hopes of getting to know God better, and perhaps hearing from God in ways accessible only through quiet and solitude.”
Showing up – may not sound super spiritual, but it is something I seek to do each day. Whether I am reading Scripture or the words of one of my mentors in writing (like Philip Yancey), I show up most days ready for whatever God may have. Yancey refers to it as the discipline of regularity – those regular, consistent times we enter into God’s presence with our hearts open. I must say, there are times I receive something quite significant – I read a few verses, or a phrase, or a quote, or even a word, and I am plunged into a conversation with God over whatever it is that confronts, challenges, comforts or calls me. Most of the time it is more subtle than that – I spend time quietly in the presence of the Lord, sensing nothing that significant but speaking my heart nonetheless, and then I go on. Showing up.
Of course, that's not the end of it. God is not confined to a single conversation or a structured time of the day. Even when He is the quiet partner in prayer, I discover His amazing ability to bring to my mind some Scripture passage, image, quote, or whatever else is needed for an unforeseen event of the day. He honors my showing up by responding to prayer in His own time and way.
Makes sense. He can do that, you know – He is God!
My advice for the week – why don’t you try showing up for prayer?
As somewhat of a fan of Yancy as well, I read his book on prayer a few years back. I re-"skimmed" the book about a year ago and it brought to light something I had never thought about. I would often spend my prayer times with complaint in my heart. I would be stressing over what is going on in the church, with the youth, and in my personal life. Then, after realizing what you said about just "showing up" I looked back at these prayer times and it dawned on me that God was at work. There was some REAL moments of openness that I didn't understand at the moment. Prayer has rarely been a super high/mountain top experience in my life, but almost always I can look back and see that God and I had some good, if not great, chats. Gotta keep on keepin' on I guess. Then be amazed at what the Lord has really been doing in my life. Thanks for the reminder Bob.
ReplyDeleteGood thoughts for a Tuesday, Dad!
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