Thoughts on Prayer

I don't think I'd characterize myself as understanding prayer well - or being very dependable in my prayer life. I try to pray in the car, when I wake up, when I go to sleep, or when I'm alone. Being busy or active usually means I'm thinking about a lot of things other than prayer.

For Lent, Erin and I are being more intentional about praying, and also as we get into situations that are just too complicated, stressful, or painful - we are reminding each other to pray more.

This past Sunday we studied prayer as a part of the class that I'm leading at First Covenant Church - "Loving Your Global Family." The following quotes that I found were especially meaningful:

• Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie Ten Boom
• Of all the duties enjoined by Christianity none is more essential and yet more neglected than prayer. - François Fénelon
• There is a general kind of praying which fails for lack of precision. It is as if a regiment of soldiers should all fire off their guns anywhere. Possibly somebody would be killed, but the majority of the enemy would be missed. - Charles Haddon Spurgeon
• I have so much to do that I spend several hours in prayer before I am able to do it. - John Wesley
• This is our Lord's will... that our prayer and our trust be, alike, large. - Julian of Norwich
• The lover of silence draws close to God. He talks to Him in secret and God enlightens him. - John Climacus

And some scriptures:

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17
  Pray without ceasing
• Matthew 7:7-8
  Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks the door will be opened.
• Philippians 4:6-7
  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 minds in Christ Jesus.

posted by Dan @ 2:10 PM