PRAYING IN LENT

The classic disciplines are gifts to us during Lent, as well as the rest of the year.

They’re part of what we ‘take on’ during this season, even as Lent is commonly associated with what is given up.

Volumes have been written on prayer over the centuries, so my goal is not to add anything new to that. But prayer is the thing that we all agree is needed and helpful, yet many of us struggle to include it in our lives to the degree that we would like. Richard Foster, who has done much to renew the life of the church through its disciplines, agrees. In his book entitled simply “Prayer”, he offers that “we yearn for prayer and we hide from prayer. We are attracted to it and repelled by it. We believe prayer is something we should do, even something we want to do, but it seems like a chasm stands between us and actually praying.” I can relate to that.

Perhaps we are distant from prayer because we’re afraid that it’s something we can’t do very well…

‘That’s for other people’. We’ve picked up the idea that it is something we must master, rather than something we simply enter into. It’s helpful to remember that we are made to be friends with God—that’s the picture in the story of creation. Prayer is part of the language of that friendship. We know that Jesus’ life revolved around prayer, and that spiritual people through the ages have learned to include in their lives a daily pattern of prayer. In fact, the Lord’s Prayer, itself, is a great place to start if you desire to grow in the depth and practice of prayer. It begins with worship, then invites God’s will and Kingdom to have sway. It petitions for daily needs, seeks forgiveness (even as it is offered to others) and prays for protection in holy living. The prayer then concludes with worship and affirmation of the kingdom and glory of the Lord. This pattern can be adapted to many different types of prayer and settings.

Sometimes we struggle with prayer because of our busy lives.

It is true that we should try to set aside time to pray. That helps us to listen to God, even as we are praying, so that prayer becomes communication. It also centers us in the reality of God’s love and presence, so we shouldn’t easily give up that goal. But we can learn to pray on the move, if we must. It’s at least preferable to not praying at all, and something that I have learned to do, even as I grow in setting aside quiet seasons of prayer. Over time, we can learn to fill empty moments throughout the day with prayers to God and a listening heart, making us more aware of God’s presence in all the places of our lives and of the love he has for us and that he desires to show through us to others.

There are many types of prayer—

personal, corporate, contemplative, meditative, centering, healing, lectio divina, etc, etc., so it can seem overwhelming. But remember that Lent is a journey, and a journey is walked step by step. So decide to begin something new in prayer, or to take the next step, knowing that you will not master prayer in your lifetime—that’s not the goal. But prayer brings us closer to God, sharpening our eyesight and hearing and reception for the things of God. It changes us, even as we often petition God for some other specific outcome.

In addition to the Lord’s Prayer, try the Psalms as a place to begin. They are wonderful as prayers. There are also many rich written prayers in the various Prayer Books that have been compiled. As you move deeper into the discipline of prayer you’ll discover many other able guides—those who have written on prayer throughout the centuries. A few would include St. John of the Cross, St. Teresa of Avila, Thomas a Kempis, E.M. Bounds, Andrew Murray, Phyllis Tickle, etc.

During this year’s Lent I would like to encourage us to pray some prayers that perhaps we have not had the courage to pray.  What would it look like for us to really risk some things in prayer, petitioning God for some Kingdom things that are way too big for us?  Are we willing to lay some things on the line, especially if it means our world will have to be turned upside down?  Prayer can do that, if we’re not careful.  And perhaps we should cease being so careful, and safe.

As we learn to resist the crush of the world and lean in to God in prayer, our lives will change.

Life will not necessarily be easier, but we will have a greater sense of God’s presence and purpose with us, and what he is calling us to be and to do. I welcome your own thoughts on this, and how God has been teaching you in the places of prayer.

“Heavenly Father, in you we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray you so to guide and govern us by your Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget you, but may remember that we are ever walking in your sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen”

And Lord, grow our prayers, even as you grow us as those who pray. Amen.

Jay+