What Matters Most in Growing a Prayer Life?
What Matters Most in Growing a Prayer Life?
“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” (Luke 5:16)
We often look at prayer as knocking on God’s door, setting the stage for our requests to march on in. This is a “vending machine God” sort of ritual, a pattern of doing from habit. It’s almost a superstitious type of appeal, like a batter who swings three times, taps home plate with the bat, and swings two more times before being ready to hit the ball. It’s as if we are on automatic pilot, not even realizing we’re doing it.
How We Miss the Point
We miss the point when we look at prayer as our personal cosmic vending machine. We deposit our words, trying to put them in just right, pushing the button for our request, in Jesus’s name. We hope that the right item comes out because, well, we did do what was expected. But what matters most in growing a prayer life is not the words, how you say them, or what position you are in at the time. What matters is your perception of God and the posture of the heart.
Do You Really Believe?
Do you really believe that God is always faithful, always good, infinite in wisdom, all-powerful, all-knowing, and more? Do you believe that, through the beauty of His character, He is simultaneously and consistently all of these?
Our human thinking is limited, but if our perception of God is based on the absolute truth of who He is, there is an unwavering confidence and complete, joyful dependence on Him. This is the posture He desires: a child’s complete dependence and trust in their Father. This produces true peace, and no matter what may come, our hearts are able to rest in Him. Because of this rest, we can spend time in prayer without speaking a word, abiding in God. I often wonder if He tires of our yacking. He may often want to just whisper, “Shh, be still, child, and just be with me in the silence.” Silence can be uncomfortable, but it is necessary for growing a healthy prayer life—fostering comfortable silence before the Lord. In stillness, we can come before Him with an open heart and just rest in Him.
“What wings are to a bird, and sails to a ship, so is prayer to the soul.” – Corrie Ten Boom
“It matters little what form of prayer we adopt or how many words we use. What matters is the faith which lays hold on God, knowing that He knows our needs before we even ask Him.” – Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Laureen Mgrdichian, Women's Ministry Director