I’m involved in our church’s prayer ministry. When I first considered serving in this ministry I wondered if I was the wisest choice, there are others infinitely more qualified. You know…real prayer warriors who are faithful to keep a daily schedule of meeting with God in an extended time of prayer and intercession.
I work at it. I pray everyday but not necessarily for extended lengths of time, totally focused on prayer. I’m learning that the image I have in my mind of the prayer warrior isn’t always the calling God has on my life and the ministry of prayer.
For years when asked “How is you’re prayer life?” my answer was “I wish it were better”. Did I pray everyday at the same time for a certain length of time? No. Did I have enough faith? What was the ratio of answered prayers to unanswered prayers? Surely that was an indication of how strong my faith was and how well my prayer life was going. I have no idea how I came to that formula to evaluate the perfect prayer life but I know I never measured up.
Then a health crisis of an extended family member led to a cross country trip and taught me a lot more about prayer. The prayers for healing, the prayers for strength, the prayers for compassion, the prayers asking to be able to anticipate a need before it was voiced…it was a steady, ongoing conversation with God asking for help to meet the needs of someone recovering from major health concerns. I thought I understood what it meant to have an attitude of prayer and thankfulness but God showed me I had only been scratching the surface.
Prayer is just conversation with God. That’s it. The walls and stained glass windows of a church are not a requirement for prayer. Kneeling is not a requirement. Bowing your head and closing your eyes are not requirements. Once you understand that you can pray anywhere, and be doing anything while praying then it’s easier to be in an ongoing conversation with God.
When I consider all the times during my day that I talk to God while I am doing other things then I begin to realize that I spend a great deal more time in prayer than I originally thought. Amazingly, those short, spontaneous conversations with God are just as much “prayer time” as the extended times I share with Him.
“Pray without ceasing” 1 Thessalonians 5:17
I have a great deal of learning to do when it comes to understanding what it means to be in relationship with the God above all other gods. The best way to learn is to make myself available to Him through prayer and reading His Word. But God doesn’t waste any of the time I spend in prayer with Him…driving, showering, washing dishes, scrubbing floors, pricing merchandise at work, whispered prayers in the dark of night, prayers asking for the right words to share. Every conversation with Him is time with Him.
I’m not going to beat myself up anymore when it comes to prayer. Someday I will reach the point in my relationship with Him that every waking moment is lived in awareness of being in His presence. Until then I will focus on having an attitude of prayer, praying about everything as it comes to my mind and not getting too busy or distracted to speak with the One who never leaves me.
If you have the self inflicted bruises of beating yourself up over prayer then put down the stick and ask God to show you how to pray without ceasing. He has nothing more important on His agenda right now. I don't mind having company in the school of prayer and would appreciate hearing about what He is teaching you.
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