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Verse: Luke 11:1
One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Thought:
So many of us struggle to pray. I know I do. And it isn't just making time, it is how I pray that tangles me in knots. There are various pro-forma methods of praying. We have the Lord's prayer, which Jesus taught his disciples in the verses that follow this verse. Some people use the ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication) method. But it isn't just about the style of the prayer, but the content. I know I shared on Sunday about nice prayer and being free to pray with emotion. But I always feel a bit stilted when I pray. God isn't a physical being and it can be hard to speak without instant feedback.
In the last couple of years I have developed a group of really good friends. We all chat every day and share so much. We have been through cancer, death, job uncertainties, operations, fears, insomnia and funerals. We have also been through the joy of first smiles, wobbly teeth, robotic championships, having designs published, winning competitions, holidays, skating championships, romance, weddings and lots of laughter. And I have not met a single one of them in person. Yet I consider them real friends. They are my digi-sisters and they are a wonderful bunch of ladies. My son calls them my lap friends (hence the photo!) and this is my usual way of communicating with them.
In the same way, although I have never met God, my relationship with him should be growing stronger each day. I should be chatting and sharing things with him. I found that doing this blog is a way of praying. My thoughts are centered on relating daily things to my relationship with God. I kept a written prayer diary for a while and it saw me through a really rough patch in my life. I would often find myself writing reams every day. I was far more honest and open than if I was formally praying.
I think it is time for me to start writing again - it works for me. Find the prayer method that works best and talk to God in this way. Like any relationship, it grows stronger the more you talk.
Prayer
Lord, it is such a privilege to be in a relationship with you. Please help me to speak to You as I would to any friends. Let me be open and honest with you and open to the answers you give me too.
This is a wonderful post, Debbie. And not just because it's about our sistahs. ;) It speaks to my heart right now because I have been diligently praying for my friend in crisis for the last few weeks, but I seem to have run out of words now. I just kind of sit and moan before God from the inside out...or I just say, "Lord..." and feel so weepy. And some days I feel very lost and angry and don't pray at all. And I don't know how to love my friend or what she needs. But the truth is that he knows every word I speak and every word I don't speak. Thanks for reminding me how honest I can be with Him.
ReplyDeleteWe love you, too, Debbie. :) Although we aren't a
ReplyDelete"prayer group" we sure know how to talk to God on each others' behalf, don't we? :)