“An ordinary simple Christian kneels down to say his prayers. He is trying to get into touch with God. But if he is a Christian he knows that what is prompting him to pray is also God: God, so to speak, inside him (the Holy Spirit). But he also knows that all his real knowledge of God comes through Christ, the Man who was God—that Christ is standing beside him, helping him to pray, praying for him. You see what is happening. God is the thing to which he is praying—the goal he is trying to reach. God is also the thing inside him which is pushing him on—the motive power. God is also the road or bridge along which he is being pushed to that goal. So that the whole threefold life the three-personal Being is actually going on in that ordinary little bedroom where an ordinary man (person) is saying…prayers.” ~~C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
I love the way that C.S. Lewis gives us this picture of what’s happening during our time in prayer. When we pray, we really need to…
Be real. Prayer isn’t about eloquent words or lengthy speeches; it’s about sharing your life…regardless of where you happen to be at the time…with The One who cares about you the most. If you’re going through a rough time, talk about it. If you’re angry or frustrated about the circumstances you find yourself in, cry about it. If you’re happy about what’s going on in you’re life or if you’re amazed at how God has pulled you through something, tell God thanks. If you need God’s help in your life, ask him for it. Be real with where you are in your life, and if you need to, ask for God’s help with your motives. God already knows what’s on your mind—God already knows what’s on your heart. With that, you might as well spill your guts and be real.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7
Believe. When you pray, believe and have the faith that God will answer your prayer. God won’t let you down. Now having said that, God doesn’t always give you what you want. Instead, God will provide you with what you need. When I ask for God’s help through situations, I pray for the strength to get through whatever I’m going through. In other words, I pray for perseverance, not the outcome; because quite frankly, I don’t always know what’s best for me and I totally believe that God really does know what’s best for me. Often, I have set in my mind what I think is best, and the truth of it is, that if God had answered my prayer in the way I thought I wanted, I would’ve been setting the bar so low–so, I leave the outcome to God with the belief that God’s got my best interests at heart and God’s view sees the bigger picture.
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us– whatever we ask– we know that we have what we asked of him. ~~1 John 5:14-15
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ~~Mark 11: 24
Be passionate. Pray passionately not only about what’s going on with ourselves, but also what’s going on in the lives of those around us. Pray often. Often I pray when I’m walking down the hall, or driving in the car. When someone comes to mind, what began as a thought transcends into a prayer for that person. I strive to be passionate about incorporating God’s presence in every aspect of my life because I want God with me no matter what I’m doing. In truth, God’s there anyway, it’s just up to me to recognize and be aware of God’s presence. When we’re passionate in our prayers (whether for others or ourselves), we’re passionate with The One who’s most passionate about us.
And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge– that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~~Ephesians 3:17-19
© 2005 Ginny Rogers
