Prayer has always been fascinating to me. I have gone for long periods of time in the past without praying. In desperate times, I always pray. There have been times when I have been too sick even to think about prayer which is one reason we all need people praying for us.
I am now on a committee. Because of health I had not been on a committee for about 1000 years. I was forever speaking at an inappropriate time. But I have been in a position here alone that I could think, say, or write whenever I wanted to. I did not need to follow an agenda. At the end of one of the meetings, I said, “Aren’t we going to pray?” The pastor said, “You pray.” I said, “NO!”
In all my 67 years I had never prayed out loud where others could hear me. I did end up praying, but I felt like a nit-wit that day. That was probably very good for me. It pointed up to me how ridiculous false pride can make me sound. I did not want to pray aloud unless I could pray “the perfect prayer.” Of course, no such prayer exists. There are prayers which sound as if the person has spent 6 weeks writing them, and there are prayers in which the person stumbles all over the place. All are precious to God…in my opinion.
Now, I have been asked to be the “prayer minister” for our group. I am not certain everything that will entail, but I am willing to give it a go. I am bound to learn even if I am not at all helpful to anyone else.
However, one of the terms which people applied was “prayer warrior” which I reject. It seems to me that the more we speak in terms of war, warriors, fighting, etc., the more we do it. We are a violent people.
I was reminded that there is evil to be fought. But violent speech and/or violent behavior are only one way to try to fight evil. There is the non-violent approach. Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, Jesus…these men knew this and paid for this approach to evil with their lives. But each made a difference. The world was a better place…but still violent. Perhaps we are all too selfish not to be violent.
But Ephesians 6:10-18 reminds us that God’s armor is much different from man’s armor and ways of fighting. God would have us fight with:
1. The belt of truth
2. Breastplate of righteousness
3. Your feet fitted with the gospel of peace
4. The shield of faith
5. The helmet of salvation
6. The sword of the Spirit— the word of God
7. Prayer in the Spirit
These are God’s weapons…and His armor. We cannot lose the battle or the war if we use God’s “weapons of war.” Evil cannot stand up to them.
Carol
October 1, 2008 at 11:41 am
Hi Carol,
I am pleased to read your article about prayer. It brought back some good memories back home when I was a growing teenager and a growing Christian. We would go to church on Wednesday evening for a prayer meeting and there pour out our heart and soul to God. We wrote down our prayer items on a green board and one by one pray for those prayer request. I always believe that God answers prayer and He did in many occasions! I cannot count the many answered prayers that I have had. And every time I try to look back and recollect my past, I’m
overwhelmed. To me, this is the hardest kind of work to do. Prayer is hard work. I have to set a time and a place in order to devote myself in
prayer. Discipline is not easy to develop especially if one has attained certain age and ways of doing things. Besides that, the enemy, the devil wants us to keep busy to keep us from praying. But I’m always reminded of St. Paul’s advise about prayer. He said, “Pray without ceasing.” So, whatever I do, even if I’m driving, I’m in the bathroom or doing anything I pray. But this does not excuse me not to set a part a specific time and place to pray to God. I felt very strongly that I need to recover the Wesleyan spirit of a prayerful life.
I thank my mother who helped shaped my spiritual life. She taught us, her children how to pray, just as Jesus taught His disciples. I can’t thank her enough for the way she had led us into the right path. Her contribution in shaping our future mean so much to us and the work of the Spirit complemented that effort by showing to us that truth that we didn’t know how to pray unless the Spirit of God leads us to do so. I believe the Holy Spirit is mightily working in your life because you articulated something very precious to God, that is communicating to Him through prayer.
Recently, my group and I decided to start a prayer meeting at the church every Thursday. I told them that even if I’m not present with them they must continue praying among themselves. Please include me in your prayer lists also as I continue to pursue God’s plan and vision.
Nelson
October 3, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Hi, Nelson,
Thank you for your comments which includes your mother’s role in your prayer life.
That made me think about my prayer life as a kid. My grandfather on Mom’s side of the family was a minister so we grew up with the idea of prayer, but I don’t remember much discussion about it. However, we did say grace at all three meals. Just imagine, we all ate together for every meal. Now, it seems to me that people seldom eat together. They are all “busy.” Have you ever wondered what all of these busy people are doing? I have…and for good reason.
I am semi-homebound so I take more time in observing people, reading, listening to music, working on the computer, etc. than many people have the “time” to do…at least they don’t think they do. I have often wondered how these people find time to pray and to think.
But I have no room for being critical. For years I paid no attention to prayer or the church. I became angry at it. Of course, I didn’t hurt the church at all.
There was a two year period of time which was a true blessing. I ended up in South America, Peru for two weeks which extended to two years. I worked with six churches while I was there. I was the choir director at one as well. It was a joyous period of time. I had never told anyone that I had always wanted to be a missionary. When I returned to the USA, my visa said, “missionary teacher,” on it. I was amazed!!
But as you can tell, I am now back to church since they have an elevator installed now. And I do the website which is really a joy to do. I don’t know how you found it, but I am glad you did. I am even more glad that you wrote. Thank you.
God bless you and your family,
Carol
October 4, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Carol and Nelson,
Thank you both for your posts. My weakest side shows each time prayer is brought up for discussion. You both shared with frankness and kindness, I think I can forgive myself as well. “Praying without ceasing” and a “Wesleyan spirit of a prayerful life,” thanks, Nelson for the reminder. Pray, sister and brother, that I recover both disciplines, and recover them quick enough, I can imagine the coming struggle.Thanks too Carol for the “non-violent approach” reminder, I think I have stopped praying for our leaders because of the crisis situation we are in, which most often I mercilessly attribute to their kind of governance. I thought of asking you before, but I never did, Carol, please share with us again your idea of ‘breath’ prayers. Nelson, please include in your prayer list : Edna de los Santos, our Conference lay leader who has just undergone operations for cancer and will go through some sessions of chemo-theraphy. Sr. Mayette has come out triumphant over her own struggle with the big C and is back with us in school. Please keep her in your prayer list too. Doris’ group has been praying for her too. Yes, I believe prayer works…because God is most eager to meet us when we are most weak and vulnerable. God bless both of you.
October 4, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Hi, Alex,
Alex, Nelson is a pastor in New Jersey. Nelson, Alex is a pastor in the Philippines. It is really great that you could meet on this blog. It has taken 9 months for two people to comment on one blog post. Thank you both so much!!
Alex, I didn’t realize that Sr. Mayette had cancer. I am glad she has returned to PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines). I will keep her in my prayers as well as Edna de los Santos.
Alex, I can understand why you would be discouraged at the leaders of your country…at least a little bit. It sounds dreadful to have to wait in a queue every two days for rice and to have electricity rationed as well. However, even if we have trouble doing it, I think our leaders, yours and ours as well, need our prayers more now than ever…at least in my lifetime. One of the things that none of us understand is God’s time. I know I don’t. I want things to be done in my time…and fast too. I do not want to wait. But I also have no idea what God’s plans for us are. He doesn’t get on the internet and let me know. If He did, I would probably faint dead away…modern handwriting on the wall so to speak.
Now, about breath prayers: They are a very old concept as I understand them. I had never heard of them until Pastor Nick Connolly told me about them. You can find some information about them on Google, but I am going to give you an idea how Nick has taught us. They are based on the pray ceaselessly idea as well as the scripture in your devotions on a given day.
The prayers are six or seven syllables long. Nick has done them for years so his are much better than mine. But that is not important. One time Chris said that we have to breathe the Bible so it will become part of who we are. I think that is true, but I don’t do it well yet. Nick puts the prayers on a band around his wrist so he has them throughout the day. I have them on an index card which I remember to make but forget to pray frequently, but I am getting a bit better. I don’t have the discipline it takes yet.
Here is an example for one day for Mark 8:31-37 NIT:
Jesus began / To teach us 6:00 AM v. 31
Have in mind / The things of God 9:00 AM v. 33
Take up cross / And follow me 12:00 PM v. 34
The gospel / Saves our lives 3:00 PM v. 35
Be not ashamed / Son of Man 6:00 PM v. 38
You breathe in on the first part of the prayer and exhale on the second part of the prayer. I have recommended breath prayers for people who are very angry. It helps some of them. I use them for myself if I want to be critical of something. It gives me time to think and, more importantly, gives me time to listen to God. I think breath prayers might be called “The Breath of Life.”
And you can write whatever is helpful for you. I use the text because that is what I can do. However, there have been times when I have been stuck. I mentioned that to Nick. He said he has been stuck as well and not to worry about it so I haven’t.
I answered your question on here just in the hopes that somebody else might read it and become intrigued…and even try it.
God bless you and Nelson and your families,
Carol
October 9, 2008 at 2:03 pm
You told me about your blog several months ago and I confess today is the first time I have looked at it.
You must be very pleased with the response you have gotten from the priest in the Philippines and the one in New Jersey.
BUT – and you and I have e-mailed back on forth on this – where is everyone else? Where are the people in your church?
As we have surmised together, many people don’t have computers and the degree of computer literacy is still rather low particularly among the older geneation.
By coincidence, recently I received correspondence with the president and vice president of my high school class back in 1938. One of them was the valedictorian also. Neither one owned a computer and were rather firm in saying they never woujld have one.
So saying – the problem remains – how to better use this wonderful new tool called the Internet.
Tell me how you set up the blog, I’d like to put one on our church’s web site.
Blessings to you on all that you do for others.
October 9, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Hi, Hal,
The “priests” are called pastors or ministers in the United Methodist Church.
It turns out that Alex and Nelson know each other…and met again on our blog. Isn’t that neat? Only the good Lord could plan such a thing. And the three of us have been in contact with a third pastor, Noah, who preaches up by Chicago somewhere. Noah is also from the Philippines. I don’t remember exactly where. His sister took the books we bought for Alex’s Bible study class to him when she went to the Philippines last January. And now here you are as well!!!
I do not know the answers to the questions. I have been trying for months to figure out.
Regarding a blog on your website: Before you try anything else, check the software that you have. I think you can create a blog with it. That will be easier than hooking another one in…and it will look better than ours does as well. But I wanted it hooked up with daily Bible readings so that a person could read the Bible in a Year. I am the only person who is doing it. Three people started, but I am the only one left. Many people say they want to read the Bible in a year, but when it is right in front of their faces, they don’t do it. However, I cannot point a finger. I read the Bible all the way through for the first time 4 years ago…and I continue.
I find more and more as I read and study from the same thing I read the years before.
Thanks for jumping on the blog. Makes this soul smile.
God bless you and Nan and the rest of your family…including that great grandson. How is he doing?
Carol