Thought and Prayer of the Day

Let Us Pray
By Jacky Bramma

The very lifeblood of being a Christian is prayer.

In the first place, prayer is not a ritual, but a relationship. It is the way in which we develop a relationship with our Father in heaven. Sometimes people say, “God knows our needs, so why do we have to ask?” Of course, it wouldn’t be much of a relationship without communication, and asking is not the only way in which we communicate with God. It is all to easy to fall into the trap of prayer becoming like a wish list, said by rote.

Nicky Gumbel, founder of the Alpha program, recalls praying the same prayer at bedtime each night when he was a small child: “God bless Mummy and Daddy and make me a good boy, Amen.” He notes that there was nothing wrong with the prayer, but that for him it was only a formula, said with superstitious fears about what might go wrong if he didn’t.

Thanksgiving, praise, adoration, confession, silent meditation and listening are all elements of communicating with God. So-called very short “arrow prayers” may be said at times of crisis, like an SOS.

In worship, the prayers of the people unite us in a common voice of supplication. There are wonderful sources of written prayers in our prayer book, and in the writings of others. Jesus outlined a pattern for prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 and Luke 11:2-4, The Lord’s Prayer.

At times we may find it hard to find words to express our thoughts. St Paul writes in Roman 8:26-27, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is in the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

I must say, I find these words a comfort. My prayers do not need to be eloquent, but only genuine and from the heart. Sometimes prayer may simply be a time of silent contemplation. Sitting for ten minutes in silence, repeating a mantra such as Maranatha, is something I am working on at the moment.

It is up to each of us to discover what works best to find a time to be alone and pray. Some adhere to a strict timetable, while for others the time varies. There is no “right” way. God just wants us to draw close to him, so that our desires will align with his will. We may not understand why sometimes God answers our prayers with “yes”, “no”, or “wait”, but we do know that God always hears us.

PRAYER FROM RANDY HOLLERITH, DEAN OF WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL:
LORD, help me today to shut up, listen up, open up and put up.
You have a lot more to show and tell me than I have to tell you.
Please be patient with me. Allow me a glimpse, give me a hint, of what is really going on around me, as I walk and work and watch and wonder about this unfolding day.

I know I need to worry a lot less. I need to stop overreacting, to be calmer and not to insist on being special or right.
The world does not revolve around me, nor am I its or anyone’s saviour. I must learn to look up and out, not just in. I must try harder to be a wiser, kinder, less grouchy human being.
Gracious God, help me to pray my life and live my prayers. AMEN