Monday 23rd February - Prayer

DAILY BYTE

This week we begin preparing ourselves for Lent, the 40 day journey that Christians have observed since ancient times as a way of preparing themselves for Easter. Spiritual disciplines have always formed an essential part of the Lenten journey, and so during the course of this week, we will be looking more carefully at some of those.

The first such discipline is prayer. There is a great deal that has been written on the subject of prayer over the ages, and with good reason. For prayer is one of the great mysteries of the spiritual life. To say that prayer is a mystery does not mean that prayer cannot be understood, but rather that it cannot be boxed within any one particular understanding. There are endless layers upon layers of meaning and insight that can be discovered when you plunge into the great adventure of the life of prayer.

Some people find this overwhelming, and even intimidating. And so they run away from prayer completely, or else turn to prayer only erratically and occasionally when caught up in some crisis. Faced with the wide expanse of this mighty ocean, they are hesitant even to get their feet wet in the waves of God’s prayerful presence that break continually upon the shore of their lives. Certainly, the thought of venturing beyond the shallows as a consistent pattern for their daily lives is something that they never even consider.

This is a great pity, because God is constantly calling out to us, longing for us to venture more boldly into the great mystery of prayer, where we can encounter God in ways that we never dreamed possible, and where we can find healing and wholeness for our brokenness and new direction and purpose for our lives.

As we seek to do that, the one quality that will help us more than any other is perseverance. According to the teaching of Jesus, our perseverance is perhaps the greatest requirement if we are to make progress in prayer.

Intuitively we know this to be true. People who say that prayer has failed them are those who have stopped praying. Have you ever heard anyone who has persevered in prayer say that prayer has failed them?

To illustrate this truth Jesus told the parable of the persistent widow and the callous judge (Luke 18:1-8). In the end, justice was served, not because of the judge’s sense of integrity but because of the widow’s perseverance in pleading her cause. Jesus uses the judge not as a point of comparison, but as a point of contrast with God. If a callous judge finally hears the cries of a poor widow, how much more will our loving heavenly Father hear the prayers of those who call to him, and respond quickly with justice and mercy.

Herein lies the secret of the importance of persevering in prayer. We persevere not in order to wear God down, but rather to keep us in that place of open expectation to recognise and receive all that God longs to do for us.

Phillips Brooks said it best when he said: ‘Prayer is not the overcoming of God’s reluctance. Prayer is taking hold of God’s willingness!’

So be encouraged as you commit yourself to persevering in prayer, especially in this season of Lent, and may you be wondrously surprised by the graciousness and generosity of God who longs to bless you abundantly.

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 18: 1 (The Message)

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.