To pray is to change. Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us.
But often, I enter my prayer time with a check list. A time of ritual, an act of obedience that I charge through because I have other things to do.
Yesterday, October 31, marked the 492nd anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting his 95 theses to the door of Wittenberg Church (Reformation Day). This faithful man of God declared, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three-hours daily in prayer.” Ouch! That hit home. Luther was definitely more of a multi-tasker than I am, and yet I’m finding it difficult to make this a part of my daily disciplines?
This week, I was moved by the genuine simple obedience of my daughter. Jesus taught us to come like children to a Father, and she modeled that for her little sister and me.
She made up her own personal sized fruit salad, relishing in the beauty and creative colors of the various fruits.
And then she paused…right before her first bite, to thank the Master and Creator for what she was about to partake. It was just “snack time,” she really didn’t “need” to pray over her fruit, but what a joy it was to see a glimpse into her communication with the Lord.
Sometimes we make prayer too complicated. I was thankful for this small reminder by my daughter that it’s not.
Real prayer is life creating and life changing.
“Prayer-secret, fervent, believing prayer-lies at the root of all personal godliness, writes William Carey. In The Celebration of Discipline, Foster reminds us, “The closer we come to the heartbeat of God the more we see our need and the more we desire to be conformed to Christ.
Amen.
From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise…Psalm 8:1-2
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s a neat Luther quote. Good reminders to carve out time for what should be our greatest priorities…otherwise lesser priorities will crowd those out and make them seem almost impossible to get to. How can I take 3 hours to pray when I have all this laundry to do?! Thanks for sharing!
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This is simply, beautiful. Thank you for this posting today. It really blessed me.
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Beautiful. Thank you.
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So often I forget prayer is FOR ME and I should do it because GOD says I should and it will transform me, and instead look at it as a chore on my long list … thanks for the reminder!
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Amen, indeed!!!
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What a beautiful reminder, Jen. Thank you for sharing it.
On Friday my 16-year-old son came home and said, “Guess what we did in Latin today?” Their teacher, mindful of Reformation Day, had them practice Latin translation by translating a number of Luther’s 95 theses. I was thankful that this good teacher had remembered this important day in history, because I had not. Now I’m similarly thankful that another important person in my life–you!–remembered this day in history. The lesson you present here is so gentle and kind yet so powerful. You are right on.
Have you read Richard Foster’s book on prayer (Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home)?
Thank you for your goodness and faithfulness.
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Jen, thanks for such a beautiful reminder! I needed this today!
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What an awesome story. Thank you for sharing. It truely brought tears to my eyes due to the pure beauty and innocence of her intent. I only wish we were all more like Children coming before Jesus with a thankful heart.
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Hey, Jen, this was a great post. I think a lot of us struggle with prayer. Have you read “A Praying Life” by Paul E. Miller? I recently finished it, and it is excellent.
Mary Lou
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