Thoughts on Prayer
Bob DeWeerd
“Praying certainly does not mean simply pouring out one’s heart. It means, rather, finding the way to and speaking with God, whether the heart is full or empty.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
As I read Bonhoeffer’s quote on prayer a few days ago, I found that in a few short words he defines prayer in a way that resonates with me. Speaking with God is important in so many ways, and Bonhoeffer reminds us that we should work to find a way to do it whether our heart is full or empty. He also reminds us that we are speaking with God, not just to God. We should listen as well as speak when we pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says: “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” These words call us to pray continually and offer a few suggestions related to the content of prayer. I’d like to focus on four general ideas:
Prayer First
”Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” - Philippians 4:6
“In every situation.” These words jump out at me because they are so comprehensive. For us, it is easy to pray for big things; however, God calls us to pray for all things. It is in the day to day where we can find God through prayer, and when we are faced with any type of situations, we should pray. It doesn’t need to be long or eloquent. Think about it: what could be better than bringing our opportunities, cares, concerns, and more into the presence of God? Why not start whatever we do in His throne room? He wants us to present our requests to Him. God promises to go with us and bless us. Read the rest of Philippians 4 to see some of the ways He does that.
Prayers Bring Us to God
”Come near to God and He will come near to you.” - James 4:8
Bonhoeffer wrote that prayer means “finding the way to and speaking with God.” An essential part of prayer is drawing closer to God. James 4 tells us that God will draw close to us and make his presence known. The more we pray, the closer we are to God, and that is always a good place to be. Does that always mean that we feel close to God? Not necessarily. Thankfully, we can rest in the knowledge that God is everywhere, and that He truly is close to us. Our prayers help us see that as we share ourselves and open our hearts to Him.
Prayers Bring Us to Together
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” - Galatians 6:2
As I have been dealing with multiple health issues over the last year and a half, one thing has become increasingly clear: prayer builds and sustains the community of God. It draws us together in so many ways. As we pray for others, we enter into their situation and bring them hope. We are blessed to bring them before the throne of God and in doing so, we ourselves are there as well. When we are the subject of prayers, we get to enjoy the community of Christ coming around us. I always appreciate hearing someone say, “We will be praying for you,” or, “I’ve been praying for you.” I have been blessed by heroes of faith who pray. They are the quiet foundation of so many aspects of our faith. I’m thankful to God to know them and hope that in my prayer life, I provide a prayer foundation - even if unknown - for others. Lifting others up or being lifted up by others brings us close because we recognize that we are all in need of God in our own ways, and when we pray for one another, we grow together. What a blessing.
Praying What Is In Us
”…for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.” - Matthew 6:8
One of the challenges I think that we place on ourselves when we pray is that we want to make sure that we say things the right way; after all, it is the God of the universe with whom we are speaking. Yes, we must approach God with our hearts and minds in the right place. Part of approaching God well is being honest in our prayers. In addressing prayer, C.S. Lewis wrote: “We must lay before Him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.” Too often I find myself saying what ought to be in me instead of what is truly in my heart; however, God already knows what is truly in my heart, so I’m freed to speak candidly. I can share my joys and my thanks, but I can also share my doubts and my cares.
When we open our whole selves up to God, even if it means expressing our frustrations or difficulties, we draw closer to Him. When I have done that in my life, God has revealed Himself in ways that blessed me beyond anything I even expected. Whether it be a song on the radio, a devotional, a word from a friend, or any of a number of other ways, God showed me that He has heard my prayers and that He is taking care of things in His own way. That is a blessing because I know that His plans are infinitely better than mine and that my honesty allows me to see, hear, and know that He has so much in store for me.
Final Note
”The child asks of the Father whom He knows. Thus, the essence of Christian prayer is not general adoration, but definite, concrete petition. The right way to approach God is to stretch out our hands and ask of One who we know has the heart of a Father.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
We are blessed to know that our prayer come before a loving God. God’s love for us is so great that it is beyond our understanding. Just as God’s power is so much greater than ours, so His capacity to love is immeasurably greater than even our strongest love. It gives great comfort to know that that is the one to whom we pray. May God bless you and may he draw you to him as you life your prayers before Him.