WATCHWORD:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love. Jude 1:20-21
Meditation:
Prayer
What is prayer? Think about that. Do we turn to prayer as a last resort? Do we pray only when circumstances are crushing us down? How about praying just when it thrills or excites us? Do we consider prayer as an exercise in common sense that prepares us for some greater work for God? Is prayer part of your meditation, or does meditation prepare you for prayer? Questions, questions.
Oswald Chambers tells us that prayer does not equip us for greater works – prayer is the greater work. The most basic definition of prayer is a conversation with God, including what I share with God and my listening to the Holy Spirit. Prayer has nothing to do with meditation. It is not passive, it is a direct address to God. Got that? No middle man, just you and God. It is the communication of the human soul with the Lord who created the soul.
The most important point about prayer is this: prayer is the primary way for the belief in Jesus Christ to communicate our emotions and our desires with God and to fellowship with God. This is precisely why Christ died for us, to open the door for direct access to God. Prayer is the primary media. This is the greatest gift that you and I have ever received.
Here is a hard question. Do you think we treat praying during the course of a worship service as serious? Often it feels like the Lord’s Prayer is something we simply recite because we have it committed to memory. Before the pandemic, we used to hold hands. I don’t think that’s necessary. I don’t see prayer as communal, a shared fellowship or a shared communication with God. I see prayer as personal, as private, it’s between me and my Creator God.
When Paul spoke of praying without ceasing, he was underscoring the reality that we have direct access to Him, and we must never forget that. It is that direct access, through prayer, from my soul to God, that makes it personal. We communicate to God our concerns for loved ones, for others, for our nation, the environment, the health of all. It is my soul speaking to God… personal and private. So be it.
Bulletin Board:
Consider the Lord’s Prayer. Yes, it starts with “Our Father” in recognition that you are addressing the One who is God over all. As you say the rest of the prayer remember that you, your soul, is speaking directly to God, just the two of you, personal and private. He is your Father, your Abba, your Emmanuel, and He loves you.
Closing Prayer:
Our Father, which art in heaven, holy be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, they will be done in Earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.
