Have you ever felt a loss for words?
It may be a shock to hear that a preacher feels this way very often.
But when it comes to prayer, I've always found it awkward.
It's not that I don't want to spend time with God, it's just that I often didn't know how to. Over the years, God has guided my prayer life via mentors, models, and manuals. And I thank Him for it.
We can never get enough practice and teaching on prayer,
on how to pray,
on what to pray.
Prayer is breath for the Christian.
Last month we journeyed together through a prayer series called "Prayers of the Pilgrimage." My hope was that we would be inspired to pray, to learn how to pray, to want to pray more often. My desire was for us to lessen the anxiety and the awkwardness of prayer and go into it with confidence. I am so thankful for guides, guides like my mom, who have taught me to pray. I am so thankful for pastors, pastors like Eugene Peterson, who have paved the road for congregational prayer. I hope you guys get at least one of the books suggested on our bookshelf on Sunday; they're great resources.
“Learning to pray doesn’t offer you a less busy life; it offers you a less busy heart. ”
In any case, I leave you with this.
Pray.
Pray without ceasing.
Pray now, not later.
Let God speak to you, your situation, your life in your prayer times.
Here's one more resource for you,
it's how to pray a Meditative Prayer by Center for Faith and Work.
Try it, use it, practice it, enjoy it.
Well, love you guys and see you soon.
- PB