Douglas Young

I’ve been very upfront about my own personal struggle with prayer. Much of it is born out of, for so long, seeing God with deist eyes. Coming to see that prayer actually moves the Person of God, though, and not just nature, changes everything.  But with the change in how I see God, comes also a change in how I see the text of God’s Word. No longer can I just pass over verses, ignoring difficult key elements, because my view of God warrants my not having to address it.

One key element to several passages on prayer have been ones I’ve side-stepped over the years. So I ask…What do you think it means to pray “in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18; Jude 20)?

“I’ll pray for you…” It comes off our lips so easily doesn’t it? It takes very little thought whatsoever to utter such words. Someone is ill, loses a loved one,  or has a big job interview and we say it without even thinking. But do we always follow through?

Confession: I’ve said it and not followed through. I had good intentions, though. I really did. I just got sidetracked and forgot to write it down. Even more disturbingly, I got caught up in a movie, fell asleep before it was over, and actually never said a prayer before going to bed.

God be thanked that many have stood in my shoes. God be thanked that when I’ve talked to friends and expressed guilt over my failings, many have said, “I’ve done the same thing, Doug.” Ahhhhh. But the shame remains and empathy doesn’t justify it.

What’s the solution to this problem? Hmmmmm. How about praying with that person at that very moment?

The most powerful moments I’ve ever experienced where when I was prayed over by others, or when I prayed over other people.

Last year I attended a retreat with seven other ministers and their wives. Four couples conducted the retreat for our group. The moments we spent in prayer have yet to be duplicated. In three days, 24 people were able to create a culture of unconditional love. Churches spend years trying to do this, and I watched it happen in three days. It was amazing, and to a large extent the powerful moments in prayer made it so.

Last year, I attended LCU’s Moser Ministry Conference on Social Justice. At the close of the conference, representatives and social workers from Lubbock community service groups were prayed over by conference attendees. I remember placing my arm around the representative from the food bank as Jim Beck prayed over them all. It was an immensely powerful moment.

We didn’t just say to those who are working in the trenches: “I’ll pray for you.” We didn’t say: “We appreciate what you do and will add you to our prayer list.” We prayed for them, but we prayed for them with them. We followed through. We didn’t leave up to our memories.

I’m done with…”I’ll pray for you” and “we’ll put your on our prayer list.” I found myself doing it just this week. At least I’ve followed through of late, though. But no more! If someone needs prayer, they are going to get it right then, no matter where and no matter when.

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Phillip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

Acts 1:12-14, ESV

It appears that the disciples witnessed Jesus’ ascension at a memorable place. Not at scene of the crucifixion, though. Not at the Jewish temple. It appears that all this went down at the scene of Jesus’ most fervent of prayers–the mount of Olives. Jesus, during the days of resurrected presence, went on a sight-seeing tour to memorable places.

And what did they take away from their time at Olivet? Making their way back to Jerusalem proper, they ascend to the upper room, and there they pray. “All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.”

Those who wear the name of Christ form a community of prayer.

• And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. Luke 18:1, ESV
• pray without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17, ESV
• Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 4:2, ESV
• Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12, ESV
• do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6, ESV
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18, NIV

I like the way of friend of mine spoke of 1 Thessalonians 5:17. His thought is that prayer is, essentially, a state of mind. So he refers to 1 Thessalonians 5:17 as “uninterrupted prayer.” I like that.

Prayer hasn’t always been as important to me as it is now. I’m ashamed to admit this, but it is true. Let’s be like the community that was coming into being in Acts 1 and be devoted to prayer!

It is not always easy to believe that God cares about us, especially, on an individual level. I’m one of over 6 billion on this planet. It is natural to think as the psalmist, “what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?” (Psalm 8:4, NIV).

I know. I know. Jesus taught that the very hairs of our heads are all numbered (Luke 12:7), and that does tell me something. But that often doesn’t change the need for more validation. We still tend to feel lost in the crowd. Fortunately, there is a text that reveals the same principle but in a way that better reaches our heartstrings.

It’s an old text. At one time it was sung. And it can still be sung, in more ways than one.

“You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle. Are they not in your book?” (Psalm 56:8, ESV). This has become one of my favorite texts of Scripture. It sends a strong message that God is attuned to the pain in our lives. God is taking note of my moments of despair. God is collecting my tears in a bottle. These things are in his book!

God is amassing a ton of tears in a devastated Haiti. He is responding to cries with aid and assistance. God is in note-taking mode. He is doing this for you, me, and many others!

Thank you God for your concern for each one of us. When tragedy strikes, thank you for showing us your love and consolation. Thank you for giving us hope in the middle of life’s storms. Thank you for riding those storms out with us.

Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, sine they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

I Peter 3:7, ESV

All sorts of things can hinder a prayer life. For sure, the guilt and shame of failures lead one to be hesitant in prayer, especially, when thinking about a prayer life with another person. I can’t help but think that this is certainly true when it comes to a husband and wife praying together.

Apart from God, who knows you like your spouse? Your spouse knows your tells. Your spouse understands your tendencies.  Your spouse can hear in the tone of your voice when something isn’t quite right. Moreover, your spouse most always sees through the facades you knowing and unknowingly erect to protect yourself. So when a couple isn’t dwelling together “in an understanding way,” things aren’t going to be the same, especially, when it comes to prayer. Shame causes us to be reluctant to enter into the house of prayer with one we love!

Father…Help us to not let the failure of unmet standards inhibit our prayer lives!

Leonard Ravenhilll