Prayer Problems

(This week’s BDC was written by Rev Gareth Killeen)

DAILY BYTE

It has been said that there are two types of people in this world. Those that think there are two types of people in this world, and those that … don’t.

I must admit to falling into the second of these two camps because when it comes to prayer there really does seem to be two types of people in this world: those for whom prayer is a real source of sustenance and life; and those for whom prayer is just one big struggle.

Many of you, as you read this, would probably identify with the second sentiment: That you find prayer to be hard, confusing and even frustrating at times. We look at the great saints of church history and wonder what they had that we don’t – we wonder what their secret of prayer was.

If you are like this, if you have prayer problems, then please know that you are not alone in your struggles! The author, Trevor Hudson, quotes a needs survey done by one of South Africa’s largest denominations. This survey received 25 000 responses, and significantly, it was found that the greatest spiritual need people expressed was to learn HOW to pray.

And let us not underestimate just how incredibly important prayer is. In his wonderful book, called ‘Prayer,’ Richard Foster says that prayer is the KEY to our home, our real home, the heart of God. That’s a wonderful thought – prayer is the key to God’s heart – the home we were created to live, the place we were shaped for. If that is true, then it is vitally important we learn how to overcome our prayer problems. It is important that we learn how to pray for that is the key to God’s heart.

This struggle to pray is not unique to our contemporary society. In this week’s text, we find the disciples asking Jesus a question that has echoed down through the centuries until it finds voice on our lips as well: ‘Lord, teach us how to pray’. Jesus answered this question (in Luke 11. 1-13), by teaching his disciples the Lord’s Prayer, as well as two other well known stories – that of the persistent friend, and that of the loving parent.

One general thought that I would like to bring out of this teaching is that Jesus makes it implicitly clear that there is NO great secret when it comes to prayer, a secret available only to the more saintly among us. In fact, what we learn from his teaching is that perhaps the whole point of prayer is that it WOULD be something we struggle and wrestle with. Struggle is part of the very essence of prayer!

Now we could spend this week going through Jesus’ teaching point by point, line by line, and there would be much value in that process. But because we seem to have so many questions when it comes to the topic of prayer, I think it would be appropriate to use our questions to interpret this text. We will spend the rest of the week doing exactly that, but for now please spend some time in prayer (see prayer below).

PRAY AS YOU GO

Yes, Lord, I will try to pray, even when I am afraid to face you and myself, even when I keep falling asleep or feel as though I am going around in circles, even when it seems that nothing is happening. Yes, Lord, I will pray - not only with others, not only supported by the rhythms of corporate worship, but also alone with you. I will try not to be afraid. Lord, give me courage and strength. Help me to see myself in the light of your mercy and choose you. Amen” (Henri Nouwen)

FOCUS READING

Luke 11:1-13 NRSV

Jesus was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.’