Day 6: Prayer

Do you see how each of these two passages shed subtly different light on prayer? There are so many opinions of what prayer should be. Some think our prayer “language” should be formal and others less formal. Many reject “should” all together and insist it is different for everyone. I personally don't believe that the words you say are as important as the heart behind them. I'm pretty sure that there is a lot of variation that honors God. I'm also pretty sure there are types of prayer that do not honor God. One being a prayer that means very little to you. It probably means very little to Him as well. Another dis-honoring prayer being a prayer that aims to draw the attention of other people to yourself.

The Catholic Catechism has some beautiful discussions on prayer:

2559…humility is the foundation of prayer

2562…it is the whole man who prays sourced from his heart

2564-5…it is a covenant relationship between God and man in Christ…the union of the Holy Trinity with the whole human spirit.

If prayer is truly a “relationship,” then it will surely be very personal and individualized.

Read Luke 18: 1-17,

Compared to how an evil judge responds to a person he doesn't even know, how much more will God give justice to those he loves?

Contrast the focus of the prayers offered by the pharisee and the tax collector. How might you characterize their hearts?

Consider Christ's interaction with children. Which do you think God prefers, the polished, prepared prayers of the self-righteous or a transparent genuine interaction with His precious child?

I have to take you back to my friend smiling as his 18 month old daughter was “exercising” in his gym. Her motives were completely innocent. She was relating to her father in his “natural” environment. She was confident and secure. She rightly assumed she was welcome to join in. There was no way he was going to correct her form or require her to go back to pre-requisite training. He simply relished the moment spending time with her, watching her grow right before his eyes.

You don't have to know “how” to pray in order to begin. Just open your heart to your Father in heaven. In Luke 18:16, Jesus called for the children, saying,

“Let the little Children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (NET)

How were you taught to pray? (If at all…)

Do you connect better with your Father in heaven today than you did a month ago?

Some other references to explore: Luke 5:16; Eph 3:14-21; Luke 11:1-13; Matt 6:5-15

Consider the following passages:

1 Thess 5:16-18: Always rejoice, 17 constantly pray, 18 in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (NET)

Luke 18:1: Then Jesus told them a parable to show them they should always pray and not lose heart. (NET)

Life In His Presence