So we begin another round of questions concerning prayer! I started this a couple of weeks ago because I wanted to dive a bit deeper into this critical vocation of prayer we have been given by God. I use the word vocation here concerning prayer intentionally because I feel it is our “duty” as Christ followers to go before God on behalf of ourselves and on behalf of the world around us. Paul writes to those in Colossae to “keep on praying” (Col. 4:2). It’s not an optional activity.
This idea of praying being vocational, coupled with the past couple of weeks of battling with the understanding that God interacts with us as we pray, I feel we must now ask, why is prayer so hard for us? If God invites us to pour out our hearts to him, both the good and the bad, and our prayers have an affect upon us and the world, then why don’t we pray?
“American culture is probably the hardest place in the world to learn to pray,” writes Paul Miller. “We are so busy that when we slow down to pray, we find it uncomfortable. We prize accomplishments, production. But prayer is nothing but talking to God. It feels useless, as if we are wasting time. Every bone in our bodies screams, ‘Get to work.'”
Miller writes further that “one of the subtlest hindrances to prayer is probably the most pervasive. In the broader culture and in our churches, we prize intellect, competency, and wealth. Because we can do life without God, praying seems nice but unnecessary. Money can do what prayer does, and it quicker and less time-consuming. Our trust in ourselves and in our talents makes us structurally independent of God. As a result, exhortations to pray don’t stick.”
We have been duped into acting out our culture’s lie that when we pray, we really aren’t doing anything. Now I know the truth. Prayer changes things. Yet ever so slowly I’ve seen myself evolve into behaving otherwise. I’m a guy that has to be busy and prayer is…well…is it doing anything?
Productivity abounds in our world. Just consider the number of books and articles written that help expose the secret formula to how to get more done. Now I’m a believer in productivity. And I’ve benefited from many of the resources on the market these days. However, I think there needs to be a bit of pushback when our desire to be productive clouds our understanding of prayer. If Miller is right that we live as though we can do life without God, then prayer becomes a non-essential. Though we do pray at times, it is the first to be abandoned in a busy day.
When our world began to shut down due to COVID, I noticed in myself a feeling of loss in regards to how to continue the ministry I am involved in. The outreach efforts I led were stopped. The weekly Bible study gathering I oversaw had to be reworked and moved online. My schedule though still busy, was not as hectic. What was I to do? Just sit around and pray?
What was laid bare during those first weeks of apocalyptic-like shut down was my attitude of prayer as a “nothing else I can do so might as well pray” mentality. Now on the surface, I don’t think I believe this about prayer. Yet deep down I discovered something different. Something that had been formed in me via the story of the culture I live in. Thankfully, I am now working to be refashioned by another story, the Biblical story. It’s a slow work, but it’s a good work.
So what about you? Is it hard for you to pray? Why or why not? Does our hurry up and get something done culture influence you to view time spent in prayer as neglecting your being productive? What would it take for us to wake up to what God has called us to do in relation to prayer?
Can I encourage you in a couple of ways in your life of prayer? First, start slow. If you are like me and have struggled in this area, then just begin with a simple prayer in the morning and one in the evening. Nothing extravagant or lengthy. Just begin. Second, be honest with yourself and with God about your lack of discipline or motivation in praying. Humble yourself. Then realize the goodness of God as he meets you where you are. Praying is a relational journey. Yes, it takes discipline. But it’s a discipline that must not lead to empty ritual, but to a vibrant relationship with our King.
Be First to Comment