“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought…” Romans 8:26
Struggling with prayer and in prayer is a continuous cycle for genuine believers. Prayer requires attention, devotion, quietness of mind and spirit, and, of course, time. All of these requirements are hard to come by in our digital age and busy lives, yet, particularly in this time of social separation, prayer has never been a more necessary component of our walk with Christ. We should and must be praying for our homes and families, for our brothers and sisters in Christ, for our church, for God’s Kingdom to be advanced, for those afflicted with and affected by this terrible virus, for the lost who do not know Christ, and for our leaders in the world, our nation and our communities. Yet prayer is likely the most difficult of disciplines for the reasons mentioned above. So how can we learn to pray, and to pray effectively?
“And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.” (Mark 1:35)
From this verse, allow me to offer some (hard-learned!) lessons on developing and maintaining a vibrant and growing prayer life.
Rise early. For many years, I disciplined myself to get out of bed at 6:00 a.m. In the first years of my Christian walk, this allowed me to get up before my family and spend time in the Bible. This time became precious to me, and over the years, the one hour a day has reaped dividends that only eternity will reveal. So the first step to a fruitful prayer life is to “rise early.”
Find a place to pray. This might be another room or the kitchen table or your favorite chair in the living room. When our kids were small, I had a room set aside in our garage, which had been enclosed. Now that we have puppies, I use our bedroom while my wife goes for her morning runs several times a week. This privacy allows me the freedom from distractions and quietness of mind and spirit that allows me to concentrate. Of course, I have to keep my cell phone to the side, and battle the temptation to check the news, the weather, the stock market, social media, etc.!
Begin to pray. Did you ever wonder how Jesus was able to spend hours in prayer? What did He pray for? This is the real battle to be fought and won. No battle, however, is fought without weapons, so allow me to provide you with some suggested “weapons,” or resources, for waging this spiritual battle.
Weekly Order of Worship. We are blessed to have this wonderful resource provided to us by Pastor Andrew. It is structured to include aspects of worship through adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication (the ACTS outline). Merely by following the WoW, any of us can find ourselves in the attitude of prayer and petition. I even find myself singing the songs (very quietly, of course!) and this furthers my ability to concentrate. It brings to mind those things I need to be praying for as I engage with the Lord through the passages and Scripture verses Andrew has included.
The Valley of Vision by Banner of Truth Trust. This small devotional book is filled with hundreds of the prayers of the Puritans, who really knew how to pray. Under headings like “Redemption and Reconciliation,” “Penitence and Deprecation,” and “Needs and Devotions,” you will find dozens of wonderful petitions and pleas for grace and mercy for weary saints. Spending a few minutes in this resource during your devotions will prompt reflection and a penitent spirit that longs to be refreshed.
A Way to Pray, by Matthew Henry. This updated version of Henry’s classic A Method for Prayer, with Scripture Expressions is edited by O. Palmer Robertson and published by Banner of Truth, and is filled with Scripture directed toward every aspect of our lives. It includes prayers for adoration of God, confession of sin, petitions and requests, thanksgivings for mercies, and beginning and ending the day with God. Most of the content is Scripture directed toward each topic. Have your Bible handy to note some favorite passages. I have spent many satisfying and fruitful hours in this resource alone and have seen much blessing from its study.
The Book of Common Prayer (BCP), 1662. I was introduced to this resource by a Reformed Anglican pastor from Australia at a conference. (This version is not to be confused with the Episcopal BCP available worldwide; the ISPN for this version is 978-0521612425.) Originally drafted by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, the English reformer, during the reign of Edward VI in the sixteenth century, it contains the liturgy of the original Church of England when Britain separated from Rome. Its prayers are ancient and profound; there are prayers for morning and evening, for the sick and dying, for the newborn, for plague and famine, for our national leaders and clergy. It is solidly Protestant, but there are doctrinal distinctions from Presbyterian tradition that the reader should be alert to. Yet the book is filled with wonderful prayers and petitions, and beautiful, ancient language that lifts the soul of the reader to the heavens.
Your Bible. Of course, there are countless prayers in Scripture that can direct our devotions and address our need for grace and mercy. Some prayers include Solomon’s dedication of the temple (1 Kings 8:22-53); Israel’s covenant renewal after the return from exile (Nehemiah 9), and Daniel’s prayer for the nation (Daniel 9). The New Testament epistles are filled with praises and prayers as well.
As you can see, the “weapons” of a fruitful prayer life are abundant and available. These resources are just a few that I have benefitted from. What is often lacking is simply the resolve to engage in the battle, but now, in these weeks of sequestration and national emergency, when by the Lord’s providence we have time to spare, I urge you to “take up the whole armor of God, that you might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm” (Ephesians 6:13). Pray for your children and families, pray for your community and your nation, pray for our pastor and elders and their families, and pray for our beloved church, that the Lord might grant us to gather again as a congregation on His day.
