Prayer: what a puzzle.

“Men ought always/continually to pray,” said Jesus.  What is that like?

Is it the voice in my head, my non-stop thoughts-into-words that is the waking me (and I assume, you) yet silently spoken to … whom? Just me? I’ve read that this is actually evidence of the existence of God; that it is God we are conversing with whether we acknowledge that or not. I can imagine the sceptic’s response. But now I can’t envisage thoughts that are not words; even mental pictures have a voice-over. I wonder how infants think? Or those born deaf-blind? Bilingual folk? – I once asked a Greek-Cypriot lady whether she prayed in Greek or English. “Oh, I’ve been here so long, I pray in English” she replied, “unless I’m really desperate!”

Is it pausing, like Dominicans at the sound of a bell, to regularly re-orientate, interrupt the flow of cascading moments?

Is Anna the model, widowed for years, daily in the Temple (Court of the Gentiles & Court of Women)? Was she in a trance like Mystics, or praying, worshipping, fasting herself for hours, or joining with others, priests or pilgrims? Or accosting visitors to pray for/with them? Maybe the later, since she latched on to Simeon, Joseph, Mary and baby Jesus. Would I resent/avoid an Anna (fanatic) or be grateful that she is easy-going, familiar, got ‘something’?

Peter and John went to pray (and met a lame man on the way; c’mon, singalong), or, per some translations, went to The Prayers in the Temple. Daily? Weekly? Only this one record, this one healing. Is place important? A dedicated location?

“Do not pray like the hypocrites – no ostentation, got it – but in your closet/room” – so, private, a Quiet Time. If you can get it, or rather, make time for it. Lapses adding guilt?

“I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers.” Well, I can do mentioning. Mental list. With gaps. Sometimes written list. An image of a heavenly throne, a supplicant mouthing a name, maybe overwhelmed, like Job’s friends, because often I don’t know what to say, what to ask, in the face of what’s befallen folk; and an immediate assurance that this will be, is being dealt with. An angel, poised like a hair-trigger, dispatched.

So, this praying puzzle. Commanded to (Jesus gives orders??). Sometimes instinctive, desperate.

Childlike: that’s probably good. Copy Bible examples, and those of saints ancient and contemporary.

When alone, when together (without being too mouthy).

And lots.

Monday

“Oh, Lord, thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me.”
Jacob Astley, before the Battle of Edgeware, 1642. He lived to 1652.

Our Heavenly Father, another Monday and all the “bizzy-ness” of the week ahead. We think we can, and needs must, multi-task, but that is really your domain. Actually, I can only think of one thing at a time, so thank you that as the duties and distractions pile in, pile up, we are not forgotten, and never will be.

Tuesday

Brethren, be not children in understanding: yet in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.
1Corinthians 14:20

Our Heavenly Father, this may take a bit of work. Confused.com is often where we are. Grant us, grant me, more understanding, more clarity. Both through your word, and the stories of other folk. Help us to humbly help each other, grow up, wise up.

Wednesday

Brothers and sisters, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honoured, just as it was with you.
2 Thessalonians 3:1

Our Heavenly Father, we remember (and sometimes struggle to name) those of our church who are in different lands for the sake of the Gospel. In different time zones, bless and help them today in all they plan and do. Keep them safe and well. Build your church and destroy the constructs of the devil.

Thursday

Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?
Genesis 18:25

Our Heavenly Father, in our world of sin and injustice, and proud, dismissive people alleging you are to blame, we hold to Abraham’s insight into your character. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all come to repentance. Keep us repenting, thinking rightly about you and your Son, our Lord. By your Spirit, convict our friends and family, neighbours, colleagues and countrymen of sin, righteousness and judgement to come. Thank you for your mercy.

Friday

For the Lord Himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so will we be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:16-18

Heavenly Father, you inspired the apostle to write the words. Make us inspirations to each other by how we daily live out this Hope. The news bombards us with mass casualties around the world, and local tragedies of accidents, illnesses and suicides. In the midst of life we are in death. But Jesus rose again and the same applies to us. Thank you for the Gospel. Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again. Amen.

Saturday

That in the ages to come, He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:7

Our Heavenly Father, our paper banknotes used to state “I promise to pay the bearer X pounds sterling” and we were glad of them in our hands or accounts, and usually coveted more. But what compares with that text, your promise, our Hope?  Kindness. We benefit from the kindness of strangers; help us to do the same today and tomorrow. But to ponder and dream of your kindness, your plan and desire to show us more and more and different and greater … in Christ Jesus. Let it be. Amen.

Sunday

In a Calvin & Hobbes cartoon (how irreverent?!) little Calvin gets out of bed, yawns, scratches, when WHAM! he is ambushed by tiger Hobbes. “Let go of me you malevolent murderous moron!”  Hobbes says: “But it’s morning again. We can do stuff.”

Heavenly Father, as we your children meet together, help us see Christ in one another, be Christ to one another, serve, sing, pray and learn together, do stuff. All ages, all sorts. Another Sunday, another Lord’s Day. Till He come.  Amen.