In your ministry and your own life, how central is prayer, and what does your prayer life look like? Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) says, “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions and with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Turning again to With Christ in the School of Prayer, Andrew Murray asserts regarding prayer, “This actual living fellowship with God is a real correspondence and harmony between the Father Who is a spirit and the child praying in the spirit.” Let’s flesh this out as we continue to think about our prayer life.
Prayer’s Place in Your Life and Home – I believe it is vital to have a regular, scheduled time with the Lord. This time should include a focus on Scripture and a season of prayer, and you need to be sure you do not pray to the exclusion of the Word or focus on the Word to the exclusion of prayer. Some days may need to lean more toward one than the other. Make it a time of centering on the Lord and seeking His conviction, refinement, direction, and anointing for the day, as well as interceding for family and personal concerns. You also may need to step aside for shorter times of prayer during the day, and ending the day in prayer that entrusts the day’s work to Him is a great practice. Additionally, we need regular times and special times of getting away from the routines of life and work for more-concentrated prayer – retreats, so-to-speak, even if it is just in a different part of your city where you can spend time with the Lord. Finally, I believe it is important to cultivate a foundation and atmosphere of prayer in your home as a regular part of family life. (For further reading on prayer and other spiritual disciplines, consult works such as The Spirit of the Disciplines by Dallas Willard, Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, and Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney.)
Prayer’s Power and Depth – The power for prayer comes from the Holy Spirit who stirs our hearts, empowers our praying, and helps us pray. When we have a knowledge of the Word that helps us know God’s heart, along with a life filled with the Spirit, we should find our praying is more powerful. Along with the Lord’s power, our praying needs to have depth, and here are some things you can cultivate to deepen your praying.
Stillness of heart, mind, and spirit
Deep listening to the Word, the Spirit, the situation, and those you pray for
Personal holiness and seriousness of mind
Intentionality in all things, particularly in seeking the Kingdom
A sense of stewardship in all things
Love for God and others
Humility, an appreciation for grace, and dependence on the Lord
The practice of fasting in conjunction with times of prayer
Prayer’s Scope – Although prayers of thanks or praise to God and asking things of God are certainly aspects of prayer, here are some additional ways to engage in prayer:
Contemplative or Meditating Prayer – Sometimes, to focus on the Lord, to focus on an issue, or just to center ourselves, it is good to repeatedly pray a short verse of Scripture or Biblically-true thought or question. Rather than emptying the mind like Eastern meditation, this focuses the mind so the Lord has better access to our spirit.
Restful Prayer to Wrestling Prayer – The feel and intensity of prayer can run the gamut. At times, you may need to pray in a quiet, restful way as you experience the presence of God, trust in Him, and worship quietly. Or, you may need to call out to the Lord in times of gut-wrenching, lengthy, battling prayer. I find that, most of the time, prayer is somewhere between these extremes.
Scripture-Based Prayer – Another great approach to prayer is to pray Scripture or pray directly guided by Scripture. For instance, we might pray for our churches those New Testament prayers for the early churches found there. We might pray some Psalms or read certain passages like the Beatitudes and pray those truths over our lives and our people’s lives. Another permutation of this is to pray the truths you have preached for the people, praying they will connect with and live out those principles.
“Being” Prayer – What I mean is consciously being aware of the Lord, His greatness, and His presence while being very quiet in our minds (or inviting Him into a time of reflection) as we enjoy a calm place or even as we go about our routine. It is an intentional awareness of Him without working to say anything.
Disposition of Prayer – Here, I am referring to a mindfulness about the presence, person, and agenda of God as we live and serve. This is a cultivated sensitivity of spirit and awareness of the Lord’s Kingdom agenda so that, should He want to prompt or direct, He can and so that our interactions honor Him.
Prayer’s Pitfalls – There are a few difficulties or dangers that can create problems in our prayer life.
Distraction and Neglect – In our busy society and responsibility-laden roles, we can become so pressed for time that we neglect prayer.
Discouragement and Doubt – Disappointment and confusion relative to our prayers and the seeming lack of answers can lead to doubt and discouragement that keep us from praying powerfully and even from praying at all.
Insincerity – When we feel pressured, drained, or disengaged in our work or spiritual life, our prayers may become empty, insincere, and perfunctory.
Incorrect Balance of Effort – Prayer can be misused as a means of avoiding action, particularly when we find that action unpleasant.
As I think about the pastor’s personal prayer and ministerial prayer life, I believe prayer is an essential means of abiding in Christ that we must intentionally cultivate and maintain. I pray the Lord deepens, broadens, and empowers your prayer life.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (ESV)
Photo Credit: Andy Barlow / Barlow Creative of Rockport, TX