How Do You Pray?

Last night at church, our mid-week Bible study was converted to a come-and-go prayer meeting between 6-9 p.m. We opened with two minutes of welcome, then put a prayer slide up, played soft background music, and the church came and went.

Online, folks joined, prayed, and then went about their evening routine.

I had no preconceived idea of what it would be like,
nor how it would turn out.
Yet, you can never go wrong with corporate prayer.

When flying by the seat of your pants, you accept the results and learn for a better experience next time.

As prayer requests were made, we tagged them to a list and projected them silently on the screen. Then a few scriptures of prayer from the Bible were added. The music was a 16-hour playlist from YouTube chosen at the last moment.

Will it work? I suppose the big questions revolve around who will participate and how they like to pray. Are we wasting our time? Do we even believe in prayer?

Prayer is Foundational

The ministry of Jesus revolved around his teaching, miracles, delivering hope, setting the course for the future, and prayer. His prayer was often by himself, but since his culture and the teaching of the law focused on prayer, he was sure to be where prayers were prayed.

Prayer was normal. Early morning, mid-afternoon. Late in the evening. Prayer was their life. Why? It’s where you meet and talk to God. Just as Adam and Eve walked with God through the Garden, we all hope to have a similar relationship when we spend time in prayer.

Prayer lightens a load of life by giving it wings. I trust God to hear and know what happens next when I pray. But as I’ve often said, we are given one mouth and two ears, so prayer is also about listening and not just talking.

In the Upper Room, the burgeoning group of believers numbered 120 strong. For 10 days, they prayed. I suspect they “came and went” but spent focused time on prayer. Did they have a schedule? Perhaps. When they were tired, they slept. Perhaps they fasted during this time, but if not, there was food to prepare and enjoy. Did they have families to manage? Letters to write? Bills to pay?

Catch my drift. I believe they prayed as the Spirit led them, but life was part and parcel of these days.

Let The Spirit Lead Us!

Let the Spirit lead us. Isn’t this how we should pray? Of course, that assumes you allow the Spirit to lead and then follow. Nor does it discount that you pray for needs and situations, but answers come from the Spirit of the Lord leading us. Words. Questions. Thoughts. Answers. Solutions. Actions.

We’ve all moved far from that “church” that we join, visit, support, and find our family and community connections. Back in the day of old (and yesteryear), they lived close, walked everywhere, and lived in close support of each other.

Every opportunity to connect has many roadblocks to prevent the moment. But what if we had a stronger push to take us out of the comfort zone we’ve created and take us to God?

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the LORD,
Searching all the inner depths of his heart.
(Proverbs 20:27 NKJV)

I wonder if Jesus used this scripture and others to tell the parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins. (Matthew 25:1-13) How did he finish the lesson? Watch! You don’t know when the bridegroom will come! Be ready!

That’s the Spirit leading us to respond. That’s what I felt on Wednesday night. Spirit! Lead us!

How, Then, Do We Pray

We’ve attended prayer meetings and times connected to the various buildings through the years. Prayer vigils are often connected to candlelight vigils where you remember and commemorate.

These are corporate approaches, like being in the Upper Room with 120 others. We depend on others to step up, pray, and then agree with their words and sentiments. Pat yourself on the back. You’ve prayed! Right? That’s how many pray today. It’s the unity mode. In prayer, while you pray, we support your words.

Is this the best way to pray? Yes? No? It depends.

As I began to pray last Wednesday, I took Jesus’ word to heart when he taught his disciples to pray. It’s often called “The Lord’s Prayer.” Reality checks in. It’s “The Disciples Prayer.”

If you want to discover how Jesus prayed, turn to the Garden of Gethsemane and listen to the few recorded words. Jesus sweated, agonized, petitioned, and it almost sounded like he was bargaining with God.

This Olive Tree is in the area where the Garden is almost sure to have existed. It is hundreds and maybe even thousands of years old.

Imagine Jesus praying here.

There’s no beauty more poignant than to stand at the tree that could have been the one Jesus prayed beneath. Possible? Yes. It’s hard to kill an olive tree. Olive Trees withstand the storms of life very well. That’s why we pray. To withstand equally difficult times.

To the Christian, even a sigh is a prayer.
~Martin Luther

I call the concept of praying without ceasing Breath Prayers. Perhaps that’s why Paul writes:

Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV)

Perhaps the best way to pray is to find a place. Jesus talked about entering into the closet (storehouse) and praying in secret. That’s private prayer. Could the Garden have been a public place? Yes. Again. Go back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve walked and talked with God daily.

But focused prayer also happens in the Upper Room. I’m focusing on John 17, where Jesus celebrated his last Passover with his disciples. My bible notes it as a “High Priestly Prayer.” Notice the theme. He was praying for unity.

Maybe the best way to pray is to start on the framework of unifying yourself with others.

My Path

Standing next to the church organ, I used the Leslie as my prayer desk. My bible was with me, as well as a notepad and pen. Suddenly, I was transported in time and space.

When in Israel, I stood at the Western Wall, more commonly called the Wailing Wall. The one wall available to the Jews touched the area where the Temple once resided.

Stuffed into every crack, nook, and cranny were prayer requests. Periodically, these are taken out and stored because prayers are like the death of those we memorialize.

All around me are men of Israel praying. On the other side of a temporary wall is where the women pray.

As I began my prayer time, I opened my notepad, took my pen in hand, and started writing down names as they came to me. Without putting words into my mind to define the need, I just began praying for each family and member as their names came to mind.

There were particular needs we needed to intercede for, but in general, prayer was nothing more than praying for the things we all needed. Love. Compassion. Assistance. Faithfulness. Dedication. Strength against the enemy that is this world. Fight the good fight. Stand strong. Charge the enemy as David ran at Goliath. Hang onto the horns of the altar. Guide the children. Guard the hearts and minds.

Catch my drift? There was nothing specific, but as I followed the leading of the Spirit, I prayed for things that I believed the Spirit was giving me to pray about. It was not orchestrated. No bullet list. Pre-written prayers, as you may find in a book. Nor was I trying to put any load up on anyone other than what I felt from God!

Several columns later, I had passed nearly two hours of prayer as if it had lasted no more than 10 minutes.

Prayers Are Meant To Be Prayed

I don’t know what people do, especially when they do not utilize prayer. Perhaps it’s said about every religion that prayer, meditation, incantation, or whatever else is used indicate a process of talking to their deity. Calling for goodwill. Answers. Or just to acknowledge a need. Prayer wheels, shaws, beads, or candles. Gongs. Statues.

It’s what most of us do without thinking. Whatever form we are used to, we pray. We acknowledge our God.

One thing I know, prayers are meant to be prayed.

God says to Solomon, the wisest man:

if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves,
and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place.
(2 Chronicles 7:14-15 NKJV)

God pays attention to our prayers! You don’t have God’s attention if you don’t pray! If you are a child of God and call yourself a Christian, then prayer is a natural part of your life as breathing, thinking, talking, or swallowing.

Prayers are meant to be prayed by God’s people, who are called to prayer everywhere.

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere,
lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
(1 Timothy 2:8 NKJV)

Breathe them, recite them, and speak from the heart and mind. Regardless of how you think about it, you should simply do it. Pray.