prayer

I loved the class on prayer. It opened my eyes to the reality of how powerful prayer is and how, if we're willing, our lives can become a state of prayer. The disciples didn't ask Jesus what to pray, they asked him how to pray. God knows our every thought and need. He knows the words that will come from our mouths when we pray. Prayer is something that often frightens people mostly because we as humans often believe there is a requirement of form or formula.

From my class notes-
Prayer begins in the presence of God ("Our Father..."). We are in His presence all the time and can live in state where the temporal meets the eternal. Prayer is worship ("Hallowed be thy name..."). This is a time for intimacy, for song, for silence or however you enter into worship. Prayer recognizes the eternal ("Thy kingdom come..."). Prayer is not selfish ("Thy will be done..."). Prayer is open to personal needs ("Give us... daily bread..."). Prayer is where we find forgiveness ("Forgive us our...") and strength to forgive ("...as we forgive"). Prayer is a request for protection from temptation and a request for deliverance when we have yielded to evil. And prayer ends in worship. God's answer will be good and will not violate his nature.

It is important to define what prayer means in our lives. Just as the disciples experienced a storm at sea, we too travel through the storms of life. While the disciples faced the storm Jesus was praying. How many times during this rocky journey have we wanted to jump ship and take our chances among the waves? The reality is that Jesus will meet us during the storm. Yet the disciples did not call out to Jesus for help because he had left them and stayed on shore. Out of sight out of mind right? If we focus on the boat and waves then we cannot fully enter into the eternal presence of the Lord. For the last few weeks I've thought about this lesson. It's something so easy to recognize as necessary however life makes it way to easy to focus on the boat. For those who read this I challenge you to take the steps to let prayer consume your life. Focus on the eternal, live each day in a state of prayer. Point your life into worship when you wake up and pray yourself to sleep. I heard one time it's not good to pray laying down at night because then you'll fall asleep. Well that's exactly where I want to be, falling asleep while in the Lord's arms. It's a wonderful place to be, and frankly that's exactly what Jesus lived and what he taught us.