Prayer

“Everybody knows that.” Ever talk or think that way? When we do, it’s a way to acknowledge a “given.” Baseball, apple pie and motherhood are “givens” in America, just like hockey night in Canada.

In Christianity, prayer is a given. Everybody knows that prayer … How would you finish that sentence? What is it every Christian knows about prayer? More specifically, what do you know, and therefore think and feel about prayer?

What you think and feel about prayer makes a mighty big difference. It’s the difference between a doctrine and a dynamic, a belief and being. It’s the difference between a given and grace. A doctrine, a belief, or a “given” is not enough. There must also be a dynamic. It takes being; it takes grace.

Baseball, apple pie, and motherhood aren’t necessarily great just because they’re given. Neither is prayer. But when prayer becomes a dynamic that involves your being and gets you actively involved in the grace of God—then it’s great.

How might you discover whether prayer is great for you? Where would you look to discover what you feel about prayer? In the Bible? In your heart? In your being? Would you sort through your thoughts? If so, how would you do that? The mention of prayer sends some people back—often back quite a few years—to a time when they were in a life-threatening situation, and they prayed and their life was spared. Some people recall a time when they prayed for someone else, and it came out just as they hoped and prayed it would.

For years I had heard and read about an outstandingly courageous and decorated veteran. Finally, there came a day when I got to hear him in person. As I listened I heard about his past. It was glory retold. But the fire was gone—the fire that lights the life of people of any age—but especially the youngest and the oldest. Neither the glory nor the decorated veteran seemed very present at all. It was depressing.

Hearing prayer stories can be like hearing that decorated veteran. Once upon a time we may have experienced a wonder-filled, dramatic answer to prayer. But if the fire is out, there’s no point in retelling yesterday’s glory. In order to discover what you think and feel about prayer, come into the present. Be present to yourself, to others, and most of all to God. When you are present in the present, then you can let the past and the future add fuel to the brightly burning present. What you actually think and feel about prayer begins right here, right now, with today’s hope, fear, grief and joy; and most of all with today’s God, the One who is always I Am. What do you think, what do you feel when you hear the word prayer?