"Lord Teach Us To Pray!"

The disciples ask Jesus: "Lord, teach us to pray!"

Let me share with you some common thoughts, I have had or heard, on this religious activity call prayer.  

"Does prayer really work?"  
"Does God really even listen to me?" 
"If God knows everything, what is the point of prayer?"  
"Why doesn't God answer my prayers?"  
"How do I pray?"  
"How often do I need to pray?"  
"How long should my prayers be?"  
"Does Jesus really mean, that if I am persistent enough, that God will give me what I ask for?"  

And the BIG question:  
                                    "Does God talk, communicate, with us?"

I can't help but wonder if those kinds of question filled the disciple's minds when they asked the question of Jesus.  And  he gave them the Lord's Prayer.

Because, the Lord's Prayer, is the perfect prayer!  First it gives God due respect, by acknowledging his Holy presence in our lives. Then it tells us to ask a wonderful request!  The request that, God's will is lived out on this earth, as it is done within God's realm.  It is a prayer that  asks God for help in supplying our daily needs, for forgiving us and helping us to forgive.  A prayer that God would help us to stay away from evil things.   It is an all encompassing prayer.  A prayer that  relies on God for all of our needs.  Telling God that we know he is God!

As I am writing this the movie Bruce Almighty popped into my brain.  If you haven't seen it, it is a story about how Bruce get discussed with God for not being God.   That is for not doing things Bruce's way.   So God comes to him and gives him the job of taking God's place.  Bruce quickly finds out what it is like to be God.   And just as quickly want to give the privilege  back! 

When we pray we need to let God be God!  We can't give something to God!  And then take it back because God isn't moving fast enough or doing in our way.  

Jesus did it this way:  First he told God what was on his mind.  Then always ended the prayer, "Your will not my will!"

That is my own practice today!  I began to use it many years ago.  I did it mostly because I didn't want to be just telling God.  I wanted to be trusting God. 

When we let God be God.  When we pray with confidence, about  what we want and need, God to take charge of our lives.  And the  world around us!  Actually we are trusting that God knows best!  Trusting that his' will is going to be done his way, for the best.  It actually takes huge burdens off our own shoulders.    To do that is pretty powerful stuff!

Now we can read many books that instruct us on "How to Pray."  You will find all kinds of formulas.  But I find Jesus' way works best for me.  Because, when we attempt to pray as if prayer has rules, we enter into a conversation that we are bound to fail.  Fail not because we have done it "wrong."   But because we are not being real!  We are not being ourselves!

If you want to be an eloquent,  say a perfect prayer, then stick with the Lord's Prayer.

If you want to be yourself with God,  then be yourself!  If you want to really get to know God, then go into prayer by bing your-real-self!  Using your thoughts and feelings; asking your own questions.

Prayer!  Real honest prayer!  Come out of our own personal needs, wants, wished, concerns and hopes.  Said, or thought, in our own ways.  Everyday ordinary ways!

Now I need to stop there amount.  Because another thought just came to me.  It is when someone tell us:  "You pray to show God your appreciation; and to thank him for all he has done for you." 

Now I do believe it is a good, and right, thing to thank God.  However, there is a continual flash of qualification that comes to me when I hear those words.  

Here is the qualification: What if the person honestly does not know!  What if they have no idea what God has done, or is doing, in their lives?  And, by the way, many don't!  

You know, my dream is that they could be brave enough -- vulnerable enough -- to talk to their pastor about that.   Most of the time that will never happen!  Sad!

End of qualification!

Let me tell you my most favorite way to realize how much God has done for all of us.  

His amazing creation!  

Most of us know this astounding silence prayer.  It is so common that we don't even realize that we are praying.  It most often comes to us out of a silent expression of the wonder the our eyes observe!  Or our hearts hear!

A child's laugh! 
   A magnificent sunrise or sunset!
       High mountains crags above the tree line!  
          A perfectly still lake as morning dawns in quiet wonder!
                Standing beside the ocean that appears to have no end!

Or how about driving through rolling hills, on fall day when the sun is high,  and the trees are full of rich color?  Totally amazing!

Those are the moments of wonder that need no words!  Just gratitude!  

So!  How do we pray?

We pray by being ourselves!  With our own words! Just for God's hearing.  Just God and you!  In your pajamas, holding your morning coffee or tea, discussing the day before you or the day gone by.  You are there with God just being real!  No make-up, or shaven face, just morning breathe and messy hair.  No pretense of any kind.  No rules!  No formulas!  No one grading the time spent.

In those moments you find out what is truly important.  You are able to separate the trivia, that gets in the way of the essential!  And as you allow those moments each day, each week or whenever; I believe you will find something quite extraordinary.
  Maybe an answer! 
    Maybe some direction! 
       Or, maybe just a sense of peace!
          Just something good and fulfilling!
And you find yourself wanting more of what you've begun to find.  

That unexpected something is the other side of this conversation, called prayer, with God.   

And it has to do with the question:  Does God talk with us? 

I will boldly say:  Yes!  Yes I do believe that God communicates with us all the time. Not just when we close our eye, fold our hands, and bow our heads.   

Prayer is , by all definitions, a relationship!  A connection between God and you and me.  By its very nature, communication means it is a two way conversation.

Prayer is not ever one way!  Prayer is meant to help us get to know God better.   Just as any kind of communication is meant to do!

Through prayer we give God time to reveal himself to us!

Jesus said more than once: "Those who have ears, let them hear."

I happen to believe that our ability to listen is the most important  part of prayer with God.  More important than all, we think, we have to tell him.

When people come to me, about prayer,  I quite often encourage them to use their pencil instead of their mouth.  Because, what I have learned is that,  my pencil often is very successful at guiding my thoughts.  When we write to God about things!  We are often given new perspective through the words God puts into our minds.  
My pencil has taught me a lot about myself!  I have also learned a lot about this amazing God I have come to believe in and trust so deeply.

To end!  

Finally!  

As little children we learned the proper position for prayer.  Right?  Well, as adults we find that the position for prayer is however we come to God.  It doesn't matter!  We can be driving, walking, riding a bike, sitting by a river,  in our kitchen.  Wherever and whatever we are doing.  Prayer is simply bring God into the time we have.  

Everywhere all the time!