I've always thought of myself as a good listener. I like talking to people, hearing about what is going on their lives, and sharing what is going on in mine. However, I know there are times when I am not listening though I should be. I seem to encounter this problem when I think I already know what the person I should be listening to is going to say. I've noticed that my kids sometimes have the same problem with their homework assignments. Instead of reading the directions that are printed on the worksheet, they jump right in to solving the problem, only to find out that the answer they calculated is not the one the directions required. In life, we find ourselves in many situations that are repetitive or routine. We get used to doing things the way we think ought to based on past experiences and never stop to evaluate our course of action.
Unfortunately, many of us treat our prayer life in the same way. We pray the same prayer at every meal. We pray the Lord's Prayer, but recite it from memory. We seem to forget that every prayer is a unique conversation with God. Just think about that for a minute. Can you call your prayers conversations with God if you're just repeating words without regard for their meaning? Can we call our prayers conversations if we're the only ones doing the talking, and never spending any time listening to what God says?
So how do we shift our focus from prayer by recitation to prayer by conversation? Here's what's been working for me:
- Start with a moment of silence to clear your mind.
- Select a piece of Scripture, read it, and allow time for meditation.
- Use a model like A-C-T-S (Adoration-Confession-Thanksgiving-Supplication) to help you shift the focus of your prayers from the grocery lists of requests to a worship based prayer. Ask for intercession from the Holy Spirit as well as for God's presence/purpose to be magnified in your life.
- Don't let your prayer life become stagnant. Seek opportunities for spiritual growth.
- Evaluate - assess what works and what doesn't for you and readjust accordingly.
Psalm 105:1-6
New Living Translation (NLT)
1 Give thanks to the LORD and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the LORD.
4 Search for the LORD and for his strength;
continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
Lord, We want our prayers to be conversations with You. But sometimes we get stuck in repetition and routine. Sometimes it is easier to recite prayers that we've learned than to really examine our thoughts, what's happening in the world around us, and more importantly, what You are trying to say to us through Your word. Use Your Spirit to enable us to become more connected to You through prayer. Use our lives to magnify your presence and our purpose in this world. Many of us have seen You work miracles. Remind us of those miracles and Your promises in each season of life. Give us the desire to seek the strength that only You can provide.
Each week, Lord, I am amazed by the stories from patients who call or send cards to let us know how our outreach at Phil's Friends has touched their lives. These stories are a blessing to us, hearing how You are using people, strengthening their faith, repairing broken relationships, and providing healing. But Lord, there are also so many who still need our prayers. This week, we pray for Ramona, Jon, Jeff, and Richard, all of whom are undergoing treatments and seeking You as their source of comfort and hope. For Jeff, we thank you that a bone marrow donor was found quickly and ask for Your healing hands to be over him as he undergoes a transplant procedure this week. Richard's advocate shared the fact that it took a cancer diagnosis to bring him back into a relationship with You. Richard needs constant reminders of Your presence. Bring him peace.
Lord, we thank You for all of the resources that You continue to provide. Thank You for the connections that have been made through Phil's interview on Moody Radio last week and during his recent trip to Missouri. We ask for Your continued protection over our staff and volunteers as they travel to events or here to our office to be of service. In all we say and all we do, keep our hearts and minds focused on You. Amen.