I am a practical person, a project manager-type who lives and works by a to-do list, except when it comes to my prayer life. The satisfaction that comes from checking off items on a list just doesn’t work the same way when it comes to prayer.
For me, prayer is a delightful struggle.
Prayer has so many forms: personal silent meditation, blessings for food, intercession for loved ones and people you may never meet this side of heaven, prayers for healing (physical, emotional and/ or deliverance), petition for guidance and prayers of protection, etc.
Some prayers don’t have words that can be translated and others are centuries old and have been translated into every language documented by man. I find it difficult to put prayer in a box or neatly on in my schedule and I believe God is good with that.
Couple of practical things about prayer that I have found helpful:
Practice - not that ”practice makes perfect” but practice helps us make progress.
Lean on His Presence & Power - try to Listen with one ear towards God and the second, towards the other, focus on Love (God to us, Us to the other), and then Pray.
It is in the power of Jesus that our prayers have any gravitas at all because we call out using His name which takes us to His throne room at the right hand of the Father who is ready and mighty to help (Eph 3:12). The enemy is real and prayer is a key defense and offensive weapon.
If you tell someone you are going to pray for them, do it! Just let your words rise up. Keep it short, simple, and honest. The words don’t matter but prayer must be motivated by love from God and for the other. When a need comes up over lunch with a friend -offer to pray for them. Or text a prayer note -as you text the note, pray. Pray immediately when God brings something to mind -this is the only way “to pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) is even possible.
Prayer is all about relationship. You encourage others when you pray for them and you worship God -- both of which are more important in the short term than outcomes or answers. (Psalm 141:1-2, Revelation 8:3-4)
I encourage you to join in God’s call to pray and fellowship with Him. Those of you familiar with the East Mountain’s Rule of Life, know that praying together is one of our 5 essential elements, along with table fellowship, sharing story, reading the Word and discipling others.
One way EM Greenville is encouraging prayer is by hosting a prayer space the First Friday of each month on the property. Consider joining us as we offer a haven of silence where you can rest, based on the pattern of Jesus, who frequently withdrew to a quiet place to nourish His Spirit. You can encounter God in community, yet alone, surrounded by the beauty of nature and the healing rhythm of a sacred quiet space while you “practice the practice of prayer”. We don’t provide a program on this quiet day, but reading material with some guidelines are available. Our goal is to provide a gentle, refreshing day so you can rest and enter silence, pray, hear from and fellowship with the Father.
Putting this on your calendar or to-do list could be the next best practical step to take! For more info, go to www.eastmountain.tv/gvl-events or email me directly.
With much love & prayer,
Sherri Whittington - EM Director of Global Operations
