 
As you recall, July was the emphasis on prayer in our monthly series of the Seven Faith Practices. And the August focus is worship as described in this edition of The Butterfly.
On the first Sunday our message was about prayer. A number of you had asked for a copy (don’t preachers love to hear that…). It is also available in “preached form” on our website.
…We offered 13 facets around the “diamond” of prayer (though one never says this high number at the beginning of a sermon…). I will detail them again as succinctly as possible (including a list of “arrow prayers.”) And most of us feel like amateurs when it comes to praying – including me. Hope this helps us a bit as we think about and practice this holy process of prayer.
1. Prayer is a mark of a follower of Jesus Christ. It is a way of experiencing an intimate relationship with Christ.
2. Why pray? Because the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have shown us that God cares about and loves our life – and intends for us to live forever. Richard Foster quote: “Prayer is nothing more than an ongoing love relationship with God the Father, Son, and Spirit.”
3. Again, why pray? Basic – because God asks us to pray. God only asks us to do what is helpful in our life. Prayer keeps us connected. It cultivates the friendship with God. Communication nurtures the relationship…and faith is a relationship with a God who is alive. Jesus gives the prayer example of the Lord’s Prayer. It contains all we need.
4. In prayer we open ourselves to be loved unconditionally. We can be naked before God – sharing fears, joys, heartaches, shame, accomplishments. “God, I need you. I love you!” No qualifiers. Unconditionally.
5. Prayer is conversation. It is dialog. We speak to God. God also speaks to us. We not only pray to God; we also pray with God. At times we also pray by being silent and listening to the breath of the Spirit.
6. God does not only intervene in our life but participates in our life. God wants to be involved with our life. After all, God made us…went to a cross for us…walked out of a grave for us…sustains us. In prayer we connect with God’s involvement in our life.
7. Prayer changes things. More importantly, prayer changes us. It changes our outlook: the way we see God and the way we see the other. When we pray for the person who makes life difficult for us, it changes that person. But it also changes me! Prayer changes us.
8. Check out our picture, our image of God as we pray. Do we see God as judge or angry or threatening…or do we see God as friend, healer, savior, lover, shepherd, redeemer. Our image of God impacts our conversation with the Divine.
9. Prayer has many parts and forms. A classic form carries praise, confession, requests, and thanks. Authentic speaking to God verbally or nonverbally is always a complete prayer. It is enough – no matter how many parts.
10. Prayer is shaped in many packages. Prayers are spoken, written, sung, danced, sighed. They are corporate – with a group as in worship. They are familial around the table. They are individual. Infinite forms…thank goodness.
11. Note when we pray. What works for us. Beginning and end of day. Before a game or test or interview or difficult conversation…and afterward. Seeing a sign on MoPac that reminds us to pray as we drive to work. While looking into the eyes of our child… Again, infinite times.
12. Some of my favorites are tiny prayers – often called arrow prayers, breath prayers, mantra prayers. They are short and can be used repetitively to keep us focused, on target. Usually only seven or eight syllables. Some asked me to share some of the examples from the sermon. I will list ten of them – of course, they are also infinite as we make our own. Also shared this list with our Faith Practices study group.
“Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me.” Called the Jesus Prayer.
“Be still and know that I am God.” From the Psalms.
“Jesus, walk with me.”
“Jesus, wash your love over me.”
“Thank you!”
“Relieve me.”
“Remove my fear.”
“Oh God, hold me.”
“Give me the strength that I need.”
“Into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Ignatius Loyola has noted: “Everything that one turns in the direction of God is prayer.”
13. We pray in the name of Jesus. Want to quote William Sloane Coffin in regard to the name of Jesus… “To Christians, God is most essentially defined by Christ. In other words, when we see Christ empowering the poor, scorning the powerful, healing the world’s hurt, we are seeing transparently the power of God at work. How do we know what to pray? Through Jesus Christ our Lord. We are confident about the things we pray for through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Jesus carries the authority of the creation and the resurrection to respond to our conversation.
…It is high and holy privilege to pray to the God who purposely made me, loves me, and wants to be in relationship with me.
…I know this is a bit long. Again, only a few facets around this priceless prayer diamond. I hope they are helpful. I know how much I need reminder and review about the act of prayer. A blessed remainder of summer to you. And blessed prayer life to thee.
Pastor Norb Firnhaber |
.gif)
