Prayer is not some super spiritual activity involving lots of ‘thee’ and ‘thou’, King James version of the Bible, style words. At least it isn’t for me. And perhaps that’s an important point to start with. Prayer is a personal matter that may look different for me than it does for you.
Prayer to me, is an expression of all I hold within my heart; good, bad and ugly. I usually express this in words whether silently or out loud. My car is something of a prayer mobile which I use to pray in while driving. I basically chatter away to the Almighty about anything and everything like a child talking non-stop nonsense with a bit of significant stuff thrown in here and there and a lot of ‘but, why’s?’ (in between the rant/repent cycle about people who don’t indicate – on the understanding that I am sometimes too distracted to remember to indicate too!).
Sometimes, usually in painful times, my prayers do not have words; they may come out shaped like a groan, moan, sigh, tears, rants, pleading or even simple, sometimes stony, silence.
In my world, prayer is an acknowledgement that there is something out there that is way bigger and way better than the average human, including this one.
It is a dialogue with the divine on the understanding that he is not some distant deity but a presence right here, right now, who longs to commune with every human heart.
It is a spontaneous response to the revelation that we are not alone, no matter how much it may feel like it at times.
And it is a belief that this God is listening and loving and longing to show us his ways, his wonders and his wisdom. A God who welcomes us and our hearts with all that they hold within them, especially all the ugly crap that he doesn’t want us struggling with on our own.
Ultimately, prayer puts into practice, a belief in a God who can heal our hearts as we go through life, getting hurt and hurting others. It is a hope that this God will love us enough, despite ourselves, to keep healing us enough to continue seeing and appreciating all that is good while not denying all that is not. And as the lyrics of a song that has recently caught my attention, say, ‘God’s love is a love like no other’. In a good way.
I love to pray as it reminds me of all of the above … and that I am not alone … and that I am loved even when I am being unlovely, (which humbles me in to being a bit less unlovely, sometimes!). This all helps me to keep my heart open to God so I can receive from his heart all that I need for this life. And some.
God is such a generous God that he always gives us more than we need or ask him for so we can share it with others. And I’m not talking about all that materialistic crap like status, power and positions. I’m talking about what we all need more than anything; patience, compassion, kindness, grace, mercy, understanding, a belief that we can be better and a LOVE that enables it all.
I really love to chatter away to God about my hopes, my fears and all in between – when I’m not ignoring him because I’ve got the hump. I am immensely grateful for his enduring patience with my enduring ramblings.
Occasionally, I even shut up for long enough to let him speak! Whenever I do, I am wowed by his wisdom. NB to self, shut up more and listen more.
In the past week, on four separate occasions I have asked to end my times with friends by praying together. And these shared times of prayer have reminded me how good it feels, in a pure, Enid Blyton summer days, kind of a way, to thank God for what is good and to ask his help for what is not.
Whether I pray alone or with and for others, it leaves me with a peace that comes from being reminded that there is one able to handle all of our worries way better than we are.
Somewhere, sometime, I read that there is scientific evidence proving that prayer has a positive impact on these complex bodily systems of ours.
All I know is that prayer sooths my system, reminds me of God and in doing so, of my desire to keep learning from him, how to be a better me. I’m always going to need and to ask for large, ongoing portions of that!
But don’t take my word for it, try prayer for yourself. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.
And if you don’t know where to start or feel self-conscious or weird, start with the lord’s prayer – it pretty much covers all bases!
Brilliant Jo, The Power of Prayer, changing lives and opening doors to All that God has for us all, 🙏 🙏❤️xx