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09/28/2003 Entry: "Prayer"

A brief thought on Prayer

How and why should we pray? It seems to me that lots of Christians are beset with problems about their prayers. They wonder why they don't get the answers they are looking for. They feel guilty because they've heard it suggested that the failure of their prayer is their own fault. They aren't praying earnestly enough, they don't have enough faith, their motives are unworthy. The "Prayer of Jabez" phenomenon is indicative of a belief in a "mechanical" approach to prayer - turn the handle the right number of times, at the correct speed and your desire will be met from the little slot at the bottom.

Our thinking about prayer is often focussed on results - what we will get as a result of our prayers. So you find books on "effective praying" which offer all kinds of hints and tips on the proper techniques. Using the right words, adopting the correct posture and repeating the procedure at the proper intervals will all (allegedly) play a part in twisting the Almighty's arm and make sure he gives the right answer. Getting what you want is the outcome you want from prayer.

But all this is missing the point. Prayer is not a problem to be solved, nor is it a technique to be learned. Prayer is a relationship to be entered into. True friendships are not forged on the basis of what good the other will be able to do you. Friendships exist for their own sake. They are a good end in themselves. We do not pray to God because of what we expect him to do for us. We pray because of who he is, the eternal Father who loves us beyond our understanding and who longs for us to respond to him.

Being focussed on "technique" and "results" in prayer is all about being in control, clinging on to a sense of self-determination and pride. But at best, prayer is the opposite of those things for it means letting go of ourselves and acknowledging our weakness and helplessness. We come to God, not as skilled negotiators or clever bargainers. We come as little children to our daddy.

Posted by Richard @ 09/29/2003 07:55 PM CST

That's lovely, and exactly wht I need to hear at the moment. Thank you for the reminder (though ashamed at how much I needed it!)

Posted by alice @ 09/29/2003 06:46 PM CST

"We come as little children to our Daddy."

More and more I am noting the simplicity of a child's prayer and comparing it with all the words I find in mine. It makes me uncomfortable, not to say all the "spiritual"-sounding big words and stock phrases. So I'm wondering, why is it so hard to be myself when I talk to my Daddy God?

Posted by irene @ 09/29/2003 04:27 AM CST

I needed to be reminded of this today. Prayer about a particular situation has yielded insight and this was probably an answer in itself. What we were looking for has not been answered the way we wanted.

However, we have been reminded that what we do is not to be done of ourselves but in dependence. This is indeed a worthwhile answer.Shalom,Jan

Posted by Jan @ 09/29/2003 02:18 AM CST