Be unceasing and persistent in prayer. 1 Thess 5:17 (AMP)
Sharing Your Life – Prayer Series Part 2
Go to Part 1
“Why must people kneel down to pray? If I really wanted to pray, I’ll tell you what I'd do. I'd go out into a great big field all alone or in the deep, deep woods and I'd look up into the sky—up—up—up—into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness. And then I'd just feel a prayer.” L.M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.
We turn prayer into a function. Something that we do, rather than something that we are a part of. My husband and I started a conversation the day we met. It's more than words, its all of it – everything that has happened to us and between us informs and tells our story. We are a part of it, not just its script.
What is the point of prayer? Is it to ask questions? To get answers? To twist God's arm? To convince him to do something? To change his mind? To tell him something he doesn't already know?
It seems to me that in the space we share with God, within the intimacy of his love and grace, there is more to it than simply petitions and answers. It’s not a formality or a religious practice. It’s our posture and connectedness to life – living open to God. Seeing His presence in and through every situation, whether we get the answers we want or not. Prayer means He is there and we are connected. It's looking into those “deep, deep woods and up-up-up into that lovely blue sky that looks as if there was no end to its blueness” and feeling/knowing/being aware of his eminent presence.
Prayer is drinking that in, staring deep into it, laughing, crying, speaking a little, listening a lot, sharing and hoping… to pray is to give yourself over to the belief that you are sharing this moment, time and space, with the essence of all things. God. It’s not sharing a room with someone. When Jesse (husband) and I are apart, we’re still conversing by sharing our lives with each other. Prayer is sharing your life with God. And him sharing his with you. A beautiful and holy exchange.
Pray without ceasing. Never let your connectedness – that exists beyond words and work and doing – with God leave you. Live open. Every moment is a conversation with God, verbal and non-verbal. You are indeed joined by blood and love, family… A conversation and commitment to each other that never ceases and is, in fact, eternal.
Let your whole life be a prayer.
Go to Part 3 – He Learned »
