THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

The most important conversation of my day is the one I have with God. To begin my day with the Savior is to have Him show me how to structure my life, how to align myself to His way. On days when my schedule has hurried or crowded out my time with the Lord, I have been abruptly reminded of this lack by feelings of frustration and separation from God as things go wrong.

When I am tempted to pass by my time with Him in order to move on to other activities, I am reminded of Dr. Charles Stanley’s statement, "Jesus never hurried from one place to another. He did not carry a cell phone nor did He worry about picking up His e-mail. Yet He changed the world." This thought often slows me down.

To keep my focus in prayer, I have found making and following a prayer list is helpful—though I guard against making it a wish list. I also find help in seeking a place of serenity. My two favorite places are on the grounds of Clear Creek Church and on a hill in our pasture. I find speaking aloud helps combat distracting thoughts.

When I must be in the house during my prayer time, I pray the telephone will not ring. One morning this summer, the telephone did ring. I was very tempted not to answer, but I did. I heard a man with whom I had not had contact for several years weeping and talking. He was asking me to pray for his daughter who was critically ill. We had a long conversation, and I am convinced God knew he needed someone at that time to talk with about this crisis, to assure him of God’s love and compassion, and to offer prayers and support. God knew where I was, that I was in a state of prayer and would listen, and He brought the two of us together.

Just as we like to be told we are loved, God is pleased when His children speak of their love for Him. My thanks to Him go on and on. My first and foremost thanks are for His loving me, for His giving His Son that I can have eternity with Him, and for His presence through the Holy Spirit within me. With my love for Him and thanks to Him, I praise Him for His completeness and greatness.

Prayer strengthens me against temptations. In His model prayer, Jesus taught us to pray that we not be led into temptations. I may be tempted to be critical of others or engage in degrading conversations or have degrading thoughts. I ask forgiveness for these offenses, feel a burden lifted, and strive to avoid this behavior.

In order for me to move forward in my relationship with the Lord, prayer is vital. My talking, listening, and responding to Him are all essential. Perhaps of these, listening is the most difficult. I struggle to be quiet and listen. Given the opportunity, He will give me the much needed direction. In I Chronicles 16:11, we are told "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually." When we agree or volunteer to pray for someone, I believe God holds us to our commitment. He is disappointed when His children glibly make such a promise then fail to follow through. His children are blessed with varied talents; however, to pray for another is a gift we can all give.

This summer our critical need for rain was high on my prayer list. I had prayed fervently, believing God would answer. Crops were devastated, pastures were dry, fires were rampant, yet no rain came. One morning during the third week in August I told Don I was praying for a good overall season of rain. His comment took me aback. He replied that he was not sure that was what we needed just then and that we needed to accept what God knows is best. Don’s thought reminded me I had been telling God what we needed when He knew all the time what was best for us according to His plan. Later I strengthened my prayer by praying as Jesus taught us, "Thy will be done."

As summer was drawing to a close and the beginning of school was very near, granddaughter Mary Beth still did not have a teaching position for which we had all been praying. As time grew shorter and I knew positions were filled, I began to pray that someone’s plans would change, a position would open, and Mary Beth would be called. One morning I declared to a young friend that I believed with all my heart that God was going to answer our prayers. At that very time Mary Beth was receiving a call which led to a position. When I learned of this, I immediately called my friend to give God the glory. I do believe He wants us to humbly exhibit our faith in Him.

A ladies’ prayer group at our church in the mid 70’s was a great blessing to me. We always sat in a circle and held hands when we were not wiping tears. Within the group, some of us were very close personal friends and were together often. Others were friends but not as close. However, when we had our prayer time, we opened our hearts of our innermost needs. We never feared sharing personal confidences; whatever was said within the group stayed there. Dr. Norman Vincent Peale has said that "Prayer with power is focused and specific.’ Our prayers were atuned to our specific needs. I was moved by the trust and confidence we felt with each other and the great relief we felt in sharing our concerns and praying together.

Through the years, there have been those whose prayers in worship services have touched my life immeasurably. Perhaps my daddy’s prayers are some I remember best. Daddy’s prayers were humble and were often hardly audible. When offering the benediction, he often was in tears as he closed.

Prayers that are read or recited often carry a deep meaning and have a strong focus. Spontaneous prayers, using our own words and expressions, are our best connectors with God, but as a wonderful poem or a flower will speak to a loved one and enrich our relationship and our love, written prayers "can increase our awareness tune our senses, and open our hearts... Attitudes, thought patterns and images can all be enriched... We can use these prayers to enter into a stillness that is vibrant with the Presence and with all that comes to us.’ [This paragraph paraphrases and quotes from A Time to Pray, by David Adams.]

When we encounter difficulties in our lives, we are tempted to work through them in our own way or to seek the advice of others. Our greatest source of help is always the Lord. The tried and proven way of receiving help is through prayer. What a comfort it is that the Lord is waiting, ready to hear and answer needs to our good. Being with God in prayer brings peace, security, and direction. Someone has said when the boat of our life is rocking in the waves of despair, our call to Him is one of our most urgent prayers. It is the most important one.

We must, in faith, accept that God doesn’t always answer our prayers as we pray. He always answers, though at times His way is not our way. At those times we must draw on faith and trust. We must embed this deep faith and trust within our beings as we grow in our Christ-like life. Dr. Adrian Rogers said, "A faith that hasn’t been tested can’t be trusted." I am grateful we have a God who teaches us faith and trust through good times and bad.

Sincerely,
Patsy