Let us pray.

Let us pray.

Three words that can bring us relief ("God, I need You"), guilt ("I should pray more"), or great discomfort ("Oh, I don't want to have to pray in front of these people").  And sometimes, frustration ("God, where are You?"). Why is that?  These are all common reactions to prayer.  Here are some thoughts which may help us tweak our perspective on prayer.  #GraceTrumpsGuilt

Prayer is intimate.  It is normal to be a bit intimidated and uncomfortable praying with other people.  Prayer demands intimacy and trust.  All of us struggle with that before God, let alone other fickle humans.  We get tongue-tied and stumble over our words.  That's why I'm a fan of guided, silent prayer in groups.  Prayer is not just a personal expression of faith, it is also a significant part of being community. It stretches us personally as it strengthens us as a body.  Don't let the mechanics of praying in a group overwhelm the benefit of praying with other people.

God is powerful.  We worship the Almighty God, the Creator of heaven and earth.  All things are subject to His authority.  And this God, to whom there is no equal, invites us to bring every concern, stressor, and need to Him.  He is the faithful provider who cares for us.  Prayer is not an incantation to manipulate spiritual forces of the world; it is a confession of loyalty to and dependence upon the one true God.  Prayer itself is not powerful, but the God to whom we pray is! 

Honesty is the best policy.  God has big shoulders.  Since prayer is a confession and not a performance, we can (and must!) be completely authentic with God.  He knows what we are thinking - so why not articulate it?  Are you angry with Him?  That's OK - let Him have it.  The psalmists did it all the time.  The key: they didn't stay there.  We don't know how long it took for them to move from frustration to thanksgiving.  Eventually, though, they did. Asaph said he was ready to quit the faith until he "entered the sanctuary of God" (Ps. 73).  The transition happened because he prayed honestly.  God can handle our passion.  He remembers we were created from dust.

Of all the spiritual/life skills Scripture teaches us to pursue, prayer is the most frequently referenced.  Praying should be a restorative, refreshing engagement with God, not an obligation to be fulfilled.  Whether it is a quick thought in the flash of a moment, or a prolonged time carefully guarded for a lengthy outpouring of our souls, God invites us to pray.  It isn't about technique or correct verbiage.  It is about taking a moment, or several, to refocus and re-sensitize ourselves to the reality of living in God's creation.  He never lost control.  He never will.  And when it feels like all purpose and control has been lost, He invites us to pray. 

Let us pray.