Just Pray

Have you ever asked the Lord to teach you to pray? How can prayer be so simple yet so difficult at the same time? How can deep abiding prayer be the yearning of our hearts at one moment and the next be so resisted? It’s as if our hearts can go from tender and soft then to cold and harsh within seconds. Often the last thing we want to do is pray when we know it should be our first course of action.  While we are at it, why would Jesus tell us not to pray as the pagans pray by repeating something over and over and then give us the example of the Lord’s prayer; only for us to make it the most repeated prayer of all time? Has that ever-seemed kind of strange to you? Listen to what the prince of preachers had to say about prayer.

“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” – Charles Spurgeon

When we pray to God, we are entering a spiritual conversation with the very one who created us. Think about it. You get to talk with God anytime you want.  How crazy is that?

During the month of November, we will be unpacking the “Lord’s Prayer” that Jesus gave as an example of how to pray.  We are calling this short 4-part series, “Just Pray!” As we ask the Lord to teach us to pray, He will take us on a journey of reflection, meditation, and beautiful communion. We get to call our very own Creator “Abba” Father. You don’t have to be good at prayer to pray. You don’t have to be a seasoned pro.  You don’t even have to know who and what to pray for.  Just pray! Try it!  Practice it! Talk to Him! But don’t forget to listen.  Listening is as much about prayer as talking.  I would even go so far as to say that listening is more important than talking, especially if you are communing with your Creator.

Listen to the ageless wisdom that E.M. Bounds gives us about prayer.

“Prayer makes a godly man, and puts within him the mind of Christ, the mind of humility, of self-surrender, of service, of pity, and of prayer. If we really pray, we will become more like God, or else we will quit praying.” – E.M. Bounds

If there was ever time we needed the mind of Christ, it is now.  And prayer will help us to attain that very thing.  Let me close with part of poem I put together.  Maybe someday Ryland can put music to it. 😉 I look forward to speaking to you on Sundays on how to “Just Pray!”

Just Pray

When you feel you have nothing more to say…just pray!

When you’re numb and nothing feels the same…just pray!

When answers all but flee away…just pray!

Remember Jesus promises to stay…just pray!

 

Until the whole world hears,

Pastor Scott