The Bible is clear about it’s centrality to our everyday lives. We are encouraged to ‘come boldly to the throne of our gracious God'. 1 Talking to God about everything and in ‘every situation’ 2. Despite verse upon verse urging us on and Jesus’s example of going to quiet places to be with His Father, prayer can be something we don’t talk about and perhaps a last port of call instead of the first.
Some of us may feel our concerns aren’t ‘important’ enough to bring before our God. Where at other times, it may feel the mountain in front of us is too hard to navigate in prayer. Whatever the reason, it seems as if there is more for us to discover and delight in.
Sometimes it can be difficult to know where to begin and at these times a structure and ‘headings’ can be really useful. Below is one approach to prayer:
Adoration - spend time worshipping God. It sets the tone, reminds us who we are talking to and changes our agenda as our Spirits are softened
Confession - cleanses our conscience. It reminds us of God’s forgiveness and brings freedom to our prayers.
Thanksgiving - God - as our parent - loves it when we thank him for his gifts to us. Jesus was sad when the lepers he cured didn’t thank him, but took delight in the one that returned to do so. We need to be like that one.
Supplication - or requests. Nothing is too big or too small. Sometimes we are only tempted to offer the small, thinking he won’t answer the big requests. Other times we may not offer the small things as we think they are insignificant and a ‘waste of God’s time’. Praying and requesting is never a waste of God’s time. 3
At the end of the evening, we committed to praying for something that we have not been praying about - for whatever reason. To start bringing it to God again and again. I wonder how you are getting on with that? For me, it has taken me down a road that is difficult and challenging but also one that I need to walk. I remind myself that God is good all the time; all the time God is good.
Amen.
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References
1 Hebrews 4:16
2 Philippians 4:6
3 Ideas from 'Too Busy Not To Pray' by Bill Hybels
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