When you hear the word prayer, what do you think of?
Do you imagine something like this image, someone with a bowed head and hands clasped with eyes closed? Do you imagine someone in a prostrate position on a prayer mat? Or someone standing with both arms lifted high?
The beauty of prayer is that you can do it any way you want. You can pray on your knees, sitting down, standing up, or in your favorite yoga pose. You can even pray in bed while you’re laying down. Any position is fine, as long as it’s respectful and you’re talking to God.
There is a lot in the Bible about prayer. The Bible even tells you how to pray.
What should you say when you pray?
The Old Testament, in particular the book of Psalms, is full of prayers to God. But Jesus actually tells us how to pray. That prayer is called The Lord’s Prayer and it can be used as a template for our prayers. You can start by praying that prayer or you can just talk to God from your heart.
Prayer isn’t just about asking God for things. If you’re a parent, think about how you feel when your kids only ask you for things. After a while of that, you start feeling like a vending machine. Isn’t it nice when they, on their own, without being prompted, thank you for something? Any little thing?
I know I’m dating myself, but do you remember this episode from The Simpsons? Both Bart and Lisa bombard Homer with a tirade of “can we have a pool, dad; can we have a pool, dad; can we have a pool, dad?” until he final caves?
God does not want to be used as a vending machine. Of course He wants us to come to Him with our wants and desires, but He also wants us to simply give Him thanks. A thanks that is from the very bottom of our hearts. Thank you, Father, for eye sight. Thank you that I can read. Thank you for breath in my lungs, for food on the table, for friends, for family, for my job…
Once you start to genuinely thank God for all His blessings you’ll start to feel faith rise in you. You’ll feel it in your spirit. The simple act of worship builds faith and that faith invites God into your current situation. Check out Psalms 150:1-6.
Psalms 150: 1-6
1 Praise the Lord.
Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. 2 Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness. 3 Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, 4 praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, 5 praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
Colossians 3:16 says, Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your heart to God.
And Ephesians 5:19 says, Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.
Psalms 33:1-3
Sing joyfully to the Lord. Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song.
This song was one of my favorite songs when I used to attend Mass as a kid. It’s not a modern rendition, but listen to the words. It’s about singing a new song to the Lord. It’s actually quite beautiful.
Whatever way you use to praise the Lord, do it from the bottom of your heart. If you sing, sing it out with joyful gladness; if you write, write a beautiful poem or story to Him; and if you want to pray, pray with meaning. Thank Him for things big and small. For things you know He has done for you and even for things you believe He will do for you, in the future!
If you’re stuck and not sure how to start, here’s a prayer that I started. Feel free to add to it as you feel led.
Lord God, Thank you for every opportunity. For shelter. For family. For friends. For employment. For co-workers and colleagues. For every time I get to worship You, freely. For connection. For Your faithfulness. For Your provision. Thank you for abundant life.
