I have been fortunate enough to witness and experience various formats of prayer, each unique and beautiful in their own right. All entered into for the same purpose, communication with God, and to achieve a personal relationship with Jesus. When we understand this foundation, prayer becomes a powerful and sacred gift.
Growing up I didn’t get to spend a lot of time with my grandparents. They lived in Puerto Rico, we lived in New Jersey and the distance became increasingly difficult to overcome as my sister and I got older. Although I have limited memories of my grandmother, a few make me smile whenever they come to mind. Her prayer room tops the list. Within their modest 3-bedroom home, the smallest bedroom had been converted into a sacred space that allowed her to pray and worship God every morning and evening. Countless candles filled every space of the room, pictures lined the walls and a kneeler sat ready on the floor. Without fully understanding, I sensed the significance of that room and knowing it exists brings great comfort. I am certain she offered many prayers on my behalf in that small holy space. I am certain those prayers have impacted my life in ways I will never know in detail.
Reminders and invitations to create rhythms for prayer have continued throughout my life. I looked forward to my parent’s yearly tradition of praying together for the year to come on New Year’s Day and find joy looking through old prayer and gratitude journals to see how God has moved in my life.
When I first started to attend Bible study, prayer quickly became my favorite part of the evening. Up until that point I had had minimal experience with praying out loud. I found this practice so sweet, refreshing, and liberating. The prayer requests and praises shared each week quickly bonded us together in Christ, made women I had only known for a brief time my confidantes and pointed me to all that is possible with faith. This consistent routine, God’s word spoken over our needs, concerns, circumstances, felt remarkable. Have you had similar experiences with prayer? Prayer that leads you into a deeper relationship with others and ultimately with Jesus?
Merriam-Webster defines prayer as an address (such as a petition) to God or a god in word or thought; an earnest request or wish. In Matthew 6:5-8 Jesus tells us that prayer should take place in private, not ever for show. Jesus also shares that our prayers should not be full of empty phrases or meaningless words, but rather full of praise, repentance, requests and submission. Throughout the Bible we read of many examples where this type of meaningful prayer takes place individually or in groups.
Romans 12:12 tells us to “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” I read that verse and my eyes instinctively want to read from right to left. Consistency in prayer ... leads to patience during hard times ... which then allows us to rejoice in hope. Prayer provides access to God, an act of compassion from the Most High to His children. His desire to communicate, solidifies His desire to be in relationship with us. The more in relationship with Him we are, the more we are able to weather the storms of life, knowing He will be faithful and remain by our side. Prayer provides the opportunity to speak to Him, hear Him, surrender to Him. This relationship also allows for confidence in God’s promises. When we know them, believe them, and trust them we can wait on the Lord. Even when patience is hard to come by. Even when our circumstances make us want to do anything but that! Waiting and prayer go hand in hand. James tells us that we are to "consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" ( James 1:2-4 ). As confidence builds, we can rejoice in hope. And not just any hope, Romans 5:2 describes this as “the hope of the glory of God.” Hope of what God can do now, because of what He has already done. Hope in the promise of salvation. Hope in Jesus. The tribulation we might face here on earth, in no way compares to the joy to come!
At this year’s Ash Wednesday service Pastor Greg discussed the importance of prioritizing scripture during Lent. Reading it, meditating on it, writing it. He suggested using the PRAY acronym (Praise, Repent, Ask, Yield) to write out our prayers using God’s word. This suggestion felt timely and like God was speaking directly to me, as I sat trying to discern what rhythms to add or remove during lent. While I am familiar with the format, I have never used it while journaling or actually writing prayers out. This seemed like a simple and intentional discipline to begin using during lent. I noticed almost immediately that my prayers have become much more robust and much less about me! Placing focus back on what God has done and promises to still do is changing the desires of my heart. I invite you to try it during Lent and beyond!
Father, thank you for the hope and patience you bring to the world and the opportunity you give us through prayer to access you, to speak to you, to surrender to you. Thank you for your faithfulness that helps us wait patiently on You during hard times. Forgive us for the times we take matters into our own hands. Forgive us when we use prayer as a last resort. Lord, give us hearts that desire constant communication with you. We ask that your Spirit would remind us to take everything to you FIRST. I ask that our instincts would become this simple – hope, wait, pray, repeat. You lead Lord, we will follow. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
ABOUT OUR BLOGGER
An eternal optimist, Melanie Wilson is on board for anything that involves books, sunflowers, coffee, the WVU Mountaineers, Bible Study and laughter. She recently obtained a Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy and pinches herself every day that her passion is now her profession. Melanie and her husband, Jim, love their front row seats cheering on their daughter, spending time with family and friends and binge-watching football on crisp fall weekends.
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