Prayer Difficult? Remedy Here.
Ever talk with God? Did He answer? The Bible references prayer more than 600 times, confirming its critical importance. Simply put, prayer represents the very spiritual lifeblood of the relationship we have with God. It's the main way we communicate with both our all-powerful Father in heaven and with Jesus Christ, our Advocate. Through many examples, the Bible shows how prayer is the miraculous medium directly connecting physical man to God, who is Spirit (John 4:24). Through prayer we can express our gratitude, praise, thoughts and needs to God.
The Bible firmly states that prayer works. It "avails much" (James 5:16). But what happens when we actually pray? Do we sometimes get stuck in what seems to be a one-way communication link? Do we get caught in a repetitious, even mindless pattern, repeating ourselves? Ever feel dissatisfied with what you prayed? Ever even have a few pangs of guilt?
Here's the real question: How do we pray effectively?
One of the most helpful scriptures concerning how to make our prayer more effective appears in the Book of Romans:
"Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered [deep intercession that cannot be expressed in mere words]" (Romans 8:26).
Here we find a biblical admission that we may not be praying as we should. Although well-intentioned, our prayers can be off target or incomplete. Thankfully, God provides help!
What does "as we ought" mean? Can it mean that our well-meaning prayers may actually be repetitious and mechanical, hurried, selfish and shallow? Is it hard to concentrate and stay focused?
Left alone, would such off-target prayers ever get answered?
This same verse does offer help! Here's a critical fact to consider: In prayer we are bridging our physical dimension with the spirit dimension of God. It's a dimension that is foreign to the natural physical man, and humans can even be hostile to it. Part of a person's conversion process is embracing the spiritual dimension of God.
The Holy Spirit—the very nature, mind and power of God—is given to those who surrender and humbly accept a relationship with God. Through God's Spirit, we have a power-filled means to reach and communicate with God with a greater degree of satisfaction and effectiveness.
Allow me to relate some personal experiences that may be helpful: In my prayers, I have invoked the Romans 8:26 promise. I know I am but human. So as a part of my prayer, I ask God to help me understand the dimension that I should enter and request help for the needed lift to focus and prioritize my thoughts. This is a great starting point. I then find I have a rewarding session talking to the very Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
Effective, rewarding prayer is vital for Christian growth. Powerful prayer opens a door to all eternity by talking to God, a Being who is very interested in us personally.
Next week I'll write about perspective in prayer.
Now, to help increase the effectiveness of your prayer life, I invite you go to our www.ucg.org website and type in "pray" or "prayer" in the search box. You'll instantly find many additional articles to help you.
Prayer is a personal and powerful experience. I also invite you to write to me and share your questions and experience about prayer. I'll answer some of these in future columns.
