TEACH ME TO PRAY, LORD!

I learned my first lessons in prayer from my mother.  She would kneel with me at my bedside every night and help me recite my bedtime prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep.

God, bless Mommy and Daddy,

Grandma, Jeannette and Lib,

Tommy and Bobby,

Beverly and Ira,

and everybody in the world.

Keep Harold be a good boy.

Amen. 

Mealtimes were always prayer times as well.

God is good.  God is great!

And we thank Him for this food.

For love and friends,

And all things good.  Amen.

For many years, my mother kept a small plastic loaf of bread in the center of our table that was filled with small cards that included verses of scripture.  She would have Beverly or me pull out a card and read it.  Maybe we would even try to memorize it.

She was a good teacher and a good example!  I still have two of her Bibles.  She created duct-tape envelopes in the front and back to hold her many prayer lists. 

When I went to college, I immediately began getting up around 5:30 AM to read my Bible and pray.  When my roommate protested, I quietly slipped out and went to a rather cold kitchen area to have my devotions.  Eventually, I was joined by a number of other fellows who had a common desire to start the day with God! 

In reflection, I believe my most effective praying has taken place while walking.  I’ve walked miles and miles around the various sanctuaries where I’ve pastored.  In Harrison City, I walked the fields behind the brand new church I was appointed to serve.  In McClellandtown, I walked a lot in the fields behind the church property.  In East Liverpool, I walked in Thompson Park.  In Spencerville, MD, the church had twelve acres with a very private little cove on the back corner.  In Akron, I prayer-walked in Goodyear Park almost every day.  In New Middletown, I walked in Poland Forest.  In China, I walked nearly every day at the Yitong River Park which was two light rail stations away.  Here in Enon Valley I walk our little village.  As a hiker/backpacker, it’s been a most natural way for me to pray.  

[Caveat:  For the last several years I have been suffering from a sciatic nerve problem that severely limits my ability to walk.  This has clearly affected my prayer life as well.]

Yet, I’ve rarely been satisfied with my prayer life.  Too often it has been too self-centered.  Thankfully though, there have been seasons in which I have been outreaching in prayer.  For several years I set my phone alarm for 10:02 AM.  When it went off, I would take several moments to pray Luke 10:2, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” 

My three-year China journal [which I’ve been reviewing this morning] is full of scriptures and quotes from books I was reading during that time.  Living in a spiritually lost and confused culture heightened my awareness of sharing my faith and praying for God’s direction in my life.  I needed Him more as a result! 

But, I must confess that many days my prayer life is anemic.  It feels rote and repetitive.  It seems unproductive and ineffective.  I want it to be different, but don’t always know how to get there.  I’m impatient and not always willing to invest the time and focus that is sometimes required to make prayer effective. I get distracted.  I'm too conscious of the time.

I’m so grateful for God’s patience with me!  He doesn’t write me off.  And I’m especially grateful for those rare times when His presence invades my space and my heart.  Old-timers used to refer to those times as ‘praying through’.  I need to explore that concept.  I need to be more persistent in prayer. 

I recently did a seven-day fast.  My prayer life spiked during those days.  Fasting and prayer have always been great partners in drawing near to God! 

I spend a lot of time discouraged because of the deteriorating conditions in our country.  I’ve recently begun limiting my exposure to the news because of the depressing effect it has on me.  I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to watch less news and spend more time interceding for our nation.  I have no doubt that we could turn our nation around if we would invest more in prayer!  The phrase has been around for ages:  PRAYER CHANGES THINGS!  It also changes people! 

Lord,

My mom helped me get started right!  Thank You for her influence.

Throughout my life I’ve had a desire to serve and please You.

At times I’ve felt in stride with You;

other times, I’ve failed You miserably by my inconsistency and rebellion.

I’m getting down to the last years of my life and I want them to count for You and Your Kingdom!

Help me to be willing to make the necessary sacrifices to be a truly godly man.

Teach me to pray, Lord!

For Your Kingdom’s sake.  Amen.