There is much to say about prayer, but in this section we will consider prayer as a spiritual discipline. Prayer, of course, is much more than a spiritual discipline; it is a life. Dallas Willard comments, “It would… be a rather low-voltage spiritual life in which prayer was chiefly undertaken as a discipline…” Still prayer is a very potent practice for opening our lives to God.
Why do we need to practise prayer as a discipline?
In our culture, it is because we have severely impaired attention spans. In prayer we attend our minds to God, and all too often that attention lasts for a few seconds. We begin our prayer with “Heavenly Father,” and it is not long before our minds are meandering off, attending to anything often than the One we began to address.
It is for this reason that we must undertake prayer as a spiritual discipline – to enable ourselves to attain the single-mindedness necessary to attend to God – who-is-present. It is also vital for us to understand that prayer, just as every other discipline, is a learning process. We will find ourselves distracted. We will notice our minds wandering among the countless concerns of the day. However, as we continue in the paths of prayer, our meanders will be shorter and less frequent.
Prayer is conversation or communication with God.
It involves both speaking and listening. So often we pray as if it were a monologue. But prayer is so much more than talking to God. In fact, the seasoned pray-er knows prayer is more about listening than talking. Soren Kierkegaard said, “A man prayed, and at first he taught that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realised that prayer is listening.” And this makes sense because God knows much more than we do – He knows it a whole lot better than we do.
Prayer is opening our lives to God for change.
Prayer is recognition that God is God and we are not, and so in prayer we yield our desires to God’s. Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours.”
In prayer we ask God to change the way we see other people. When we look at other people, see in their faces the eyes of Christ, It is then that transformation happens. We serve others as if we were serving Jesus. We speak to others and listen to others as if we were speaking and listening to Jesus. This happens when we take seriously Jesus’ words. “Whatever you do to the best…you do it to me.”
We ask God to change the way we see ourselves. A prayer I have found to be frightening, but liberating is “Lord, shine your light on the dark-shadowed corners of my heart. Show me what I am hiding from you.”
In prayer, I invite God to come in and occupy the rooms in my heart that I have previously labelled, “Keep Out!” Then I must pay attention to the soft voice of the Spirit as he pints out my ‘restricted areas’. When I hear the spirit pointing out my impatience, I adjust my heart in gratitude for the time and opportunity God has given me. When I see the Spirit shedding light on my pride, I remember that it is only by God’s grace that I have this life.
Prayer is not complicated.
Prayer is not about saying the ‘right word’, but rather a right orientation of our entire being toward God. Prayers do not need to be flowery. Prayers like that are said either to impress others or to manipulate God. Instead, when Jesus taught his discipline to pray he told them to use simple, straightforward speech (Matthew 6:7, 7:7-11).
“Prayer is living,” Henri Nouwen says. Prayer is not something that is done only before meals or during church services. It is not limited to bowed heads, clasped hands and closed eyes.
Since praying is paying attention to God (listening, watching), we really can ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thess 5:17, Philippians 4:6). In whatever we do, we do it with te awareness that God is present. We can simply ask Him, “God, how would you like me to act in this situation?” or “God, how should I respond to that comment?”
Our prayers may be hours spent listening in silence and solitude. They may be momentary prayers for someone in a passing car. Our prayers may be spoken as we kneel at our bed before we got to sleep. They may be silently voice as we walk into a meeting. There are many paths of prayer, because paths of prayer are the paths of life.
To pray without ceasing means that wherever we go and in whatever we are doing, we go and do with the awareness of the always-present God. We listen for His take (view) on the world. We look at others and ourselves through His eyes. We ask God to show us what He is doing and how He would have us join in the process. In prayer God invites us to participate in His world and operate our lives in His way. As we practise this discipline, we will be able to see more clearly what God’s will is so that we will know how we should pray (Romans 12:1-2).
Source: St. Thomas’ Cathedral Kuching ‘Unity’ book (by Revd Patrick Wong)
Why do we need to practise prayer as a discipline?
In our culture, it is because we have severely impaired attention spans. In prayer we attend our minds to God, and all too often that attention lasts for a few seconds. We begin our prayer with “Heavenly Father,” and it is not long before our minds are meandering off, attending to anything often than the One we began to address.
It is for this reason that we must undertake prayer as a spiritual discipline – to enable ourselves to attain the single-mindedness necessary to attend to God – who-is-present. It is also vital for us to understand that prayer, just as every other discipline, is a learning process. We will find ourselves distracted. We will notice our minds wandering among the countless concerns of the day. However, as we continue in the paths of prayer, our meanders will be shorter and less frequent.
Prayer is conversation or communication with God.
It involves both speaking and listening. So often we pray as if it were a monologue. But prayer is so much more than talking to God. In fact, the seasoned pray-er knows prayer is more about listening than talking. Soren Kierkegaard said, “A man prayed, and at first he taught that prayer was talking. But he became more and more quiet until in the end he realised that prayer is listening.” And this makes sense because God knows much more than we do – He knows it a whole lot better than we do.
Prayer is opening our lives to God for change.
Prayer is recognition that God is God and we are not, and so in prayer we yield our desires to God’s. Jesus prayed, “Not my will but yours.”
In prayer we ask God to change the way we see other people. When we look at other people, see in their faces the eyes of Christ, It is then that transformation happens. We serve others as if we were serving Jesus. We speak to others and listen to others as if we were speaking and listening to Jesus. This happens when we take seriously Jesus’ words. “Whatever you do to the best…you do it to me.”
We ask God to change the way we see ourselves. A prayer I have found to be frightening, but liberating is “Lord, shine your light on the dark-shadowed corners of my heart. Show me what I am hiding from you.”
In prayer, I invite God to come in and occupy the rooms in my heart that I have previously labelled, “Keep Out!” Then I must pay attention to the soft voice of the Spirit as he pints out my ‘restricted areas’. When I hear the spirit pointing out my impatience, I adjust my heart in gratitude for the time and opportunity God has given me. When I see the Spirit shedding light on my pride, I remember that it is only by God’s grace that I have this life.
Prayer is not complicated.
Prayer is not about saying the ‘right word’, but rather a right orientation of our entire being toward God. Prayers do not need to be flowery. Prayers like that are said either to impress others or to manipulate God. Instead, when Jesus taught his discipline to pray he told them to use simple, straightforward speech (Matthew 6:7, 7:7-11).
“Prayer is living,” Henri Nouwen says. Prayer is not something that is done only before meals or during church services. It is not limited to bowed heads, clasped hands and closed eyes.
Since praying is paying attention to God (listening, watching), we really can ‘pray without ceasing’ (1 Thess 5:17, Philippians 4:6). In whatever we do, we do it with te awareness that God is present. We can simply ask Him, “God, how would you like me to act in this situation?” or “God, how should I respond to that comment?”
Our prayers may be hours spent listening in silence and solitude. They may be momentary prayers for someone in a passing car. Our prayers may be spoken as we kneel at our bed before we got to sleep. They may be silently voice as we walk into a meeting. There are many paths of prayer, because paths of prayer are the paths of life.
To pray without ceasing means that wherever we go and in whatever we are doing, we go and do with the awareness of the always-present God. We listen for His take (view) on the world. We look at others and ourselves through His eyes. We ask God to show us what He is doing and how He would have us join in the process. In prayer God invites us to participate in His world and operate our lives in His way. As we practise this discipline, we will be able to see more clearly what God’s will is so that we will know how we should pray (Romans 12:1-2).
Source: St. Thomas’ Cathedral Kuching ‘Unity’ book (by Revd Patrick Wong)
Lilian here.
ReplyDeleteI'm impress with you, wanting to know more abt God. It's very good, but just make sure you don't get upset when you can't apply all that u have learned well. Ppl makes mistakes, it doesn't mean your life will be change 100% instantly. Bear in mind, it takes time. Few years down the line, u'll be grateful that you had took the step to be closer to Jesus.
Lol, have a nice holiday too.
fried okra here,
ReplyDeletei love this article. i agree with your view of prayer without ceasing. prayer is, all manner of conversation/behavior etc. walking with the Lord is a wonderful thing. it is great to know there are talented folks like you to write down such inspirational thoughts. you are blessed!
keep on living for God!
i will.
lillian,
ReplyDeleteomg.. never knw u read my blog.