A Reflection on Prayer
By Missy Jennings
In this passage, we learn from Jesus about prayer. Jesus does not begin the conversation. One of the disciples does. Jesus is just sitting there praying. And the disciple wants to know ‘how to pray’. So he says to Jesus, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Jesus first tells us what to pray – the familiar words of what we know as “The Lord’s Prayer”. Then he gives us the parable of the Friends at Night. This part of the story is our focus for this week’s Practices Challenge.
Jesus sets up a scenario for the disciples that begins with a friend going to another friend in the middle of the night to borrow a loaf of bread. The friend who was asleep tells him to go away and not bother him, that it’s the middle of the night! But the friend who needs the bread does not give up. He is persistent in asking the other to get up and help him. And in the end, the visitor’s “boldness” causes the friend to get up and give him what he needs. Then we hear the familiar passage “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-10 (NIV).
What is prayer? How do we pray? Does God hear our prayers? Does He answer our prayers? How do we know what His answers are?
Prayer is different for everyone – at least how and when and what we pray. There’s no perfect way. For me, it is having a conversation with God. Just talking to Him. Thanking Him for the blessings in my life. And asking - asking Him for forgiveness; asking Him to help me get through the day; asking Him to help me know what to say and what to do. Constantly. Persistent and bold conversation with God lets Him know that I really want and need His help in my life and that I can’t ‘be’ without Him. Praying keeps me in relationship with Christ. And being in relationship with Christ enables me to be in relationship with others, in the way Christ wants me to be.
God wants us to pray (ask) with our hearts and minds so in tune with Him, that as we seek His answers, we are receptive to the Holy Spirit. So that we can hear what the Holy Spirit calls us to do. In everything we do.
So here’s our challenge: Spend one day this week, all day long, praying before we speak. Before we do everything we do. And if we don’t know what to pray, pray “God, be in my words.” Or maybe…”God, just be with me.”
God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking.
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.
(1514, Sarum Primer)
