Prayer Life
Many years ago, in the midst of a stressful time in my life, a friend asked me, "How's your prayer life?" He might as well have been speaking a foreign language. I was a pastor. I prayed. I led others in prayer. People appreciated my prayers. I was "good" at praying.
My friend's question, however, addressed my prayer life. This was much more confrontational. My prayer portfolio was rich, well structured and earning large dividends. But my prayer life? I was forced to retreat and reflect before I could offer an honest answer.
The Gospel of Mark records in the first chapter that "In the morning, while it was still very dark, [Jesus] got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed." This one sentence speaks volumes about one person's prayer life. Even two thousand years ago, in Galilee, the divine palm pilot was filled with healing, curing, casting out demons, and such, and if Jesus were going to have any chance at all of having a prayer life, it was going to require he make it a discipline.
This meant, for Jesus, that if he was going to find any time for prayer he was going to need to make an appointment with, and for, himself. Things get pretty hectic pretty early when you are God's Son and for Jesus to have any kind of prayer life at all, he had to get up while it was still very dark. And he had to get out to a place where he could, at least, improve his chances for some sacred time. Once up and once out, he had precious little time to pray. Why? Because Scripture says Simon and his companions "hunted" for him and exclaimed, "Everyone is searching for you."
Ah yes, the world wants more of that good stuff Jesus is doing -- more diseases cured, more demons cast out! What does Jesus do? Without using these exact words, he said, "Let's get outta here. I've got a busy day ahead of me and time is of the essence."
Jesus never had, and we will never have, the privilege of always having uninterrupted time at our disposal. People active in the world tend to be busy most of the time. The issue here is, in the midst of such business, how is your prayer life? What are you saying to God and what is God saying to you? Do you have to look up God's number or is God on your speed dial? Do you Google God or is God one of your favorites? Do you introduce yourself to God in prayer or pick up where you left off?
There are no prayer lobbyists. The practice of prayer is left to each and every person who prays. Find the time. Find the place. It won't be perfect, but it will define your prayer life. How is your prayer life?
My friend's question, however, addressed my prayer life. This was much more confrontational. My prayer portfolio was rich, well structured and earning large dividends. But my prayer life? I was forced to retreat and reflect before I could offer an honest answer.
The Gospel of Mark records in the first chapter that "In the morning, while it was still very dark, [Jesus] got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed." This one sentence speaks volumes about one person's prayer life. Even two thousand years ago, in Galilee, the divine palm pilot was filled with healing, curing, casting out demons, and such, and if Jesus were going to have any chance at all of having a prayer life, it was going to require he make it a discipline.
This meant, for Jesus, that if he was going to find any time for prayer he was going to need to make an appointment with, and for, himself. Things get pretty hectic pretty early when you are God's Son and for Jesus to have any kind of prayer life at all, he had to get up while it was still very dark. And he had to get out to a place where he could, at least, improve his chances for some sacred time. Once up and once out, he had precious little time to pray. Why? Because Scripture says Simon and his companions "hunted" for him and exclaimed, "Everyone is searching for you."
Ah yes, the world wants more of that good stuff Jesus is doing -- more diseases cured, more demons cast out! What does Jesus do? Without using these exact words, he said, "Let's get outta here. I've got a busy day ahead of me and time is of the essence."
Jesus never had, and we will never have, the privilege of always having uninterrupted time at our disposal. People active in the world tend to be busy most of the time. The issue here is, in the midst of such business, how is your prayer life? What are you saying to God and what is God saying to you? Do you have to look up God's number or is God on your speed dial? Do you Google God or is God one of your favorites? Do you introduce yourself to God in prayer or pick up where you left off?
There are no prayer lobbyists. The practice of prayer is left to each and every person who prays. Find the time. Find the place. It won't be perfect, but it will define your prayer life. How is your prayer life?
posted by Joe Marek | 7:52 AM
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