As I often write, I really struggle to develop a real deep and consistent time of prayer. I often look to pray and through out the day I say short prayer to God. Sometimes I might only say God I pray for so and so and that is all I might say. Hearing how people pray for hours, or even 1/2 hours really makes me feel like I STINK at this prayer thing.
Yesterday, as I read through the book of Ecclesiastes, verses 1-7 of Chapter 5 really stood out. Check them out.
Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few. …. Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.
Let me first say this. I want to make my prayer life better. I want to have more constant conversation with God. But maybe, words are not all that matters. Matthew Henry says this regarding this passage.
What we utter before God must come from the heart, and therefore we must not be rash with our mouth, never let our tongue outrun our thoughts in our devotions; the words of our mouth, must always be the product of the meditation of our hearts. Thoughts are words to God, and words are but wind if they be not copied from the thoughts.
I was thinking, and I want to study how many words Jesus prayed to God in the Bible. I know we should pray, and Jesus taught us how to pray, but does prayer always include words?
I know I think about God a lot. I think and think and think. I also know that I try to listen to God. When He burdens my heart with something I try and listen and apply. If God brings something to my mind that I feel I should pray about, I do. It might only be “God I pray for that” but I pray.
An interesting thought jumped off the page as I read the following
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-28.
The Spirit who prays on our behalf doesn’t use words. Why then do I feel compelled to do more talking to my God.
THINKING POINTS:
1. Do you LISTEN for God to speak?
2. Do you think towards God?
3. Do you use to many Words?
4. Does your prayer life need revamped?
I would love to hear what you think. Please leave comments. How many words did Jesus Pray? I know HE said this:
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Filed under: Worship | Tagged: Bible, Ecclesiastes, God Speaks, Listen, Matthew Henry, Prayer, Prayer life, thinking, words
I know how you feel and I know what what you are saying about prayer not only being “words”. A lot of times without really realizing it, I start prayer with just one big sigh, no words, just kneeling before God in silence. Thinking about Him. That’s worship combined with prayer I guess.
The last couple of months I just keep geting this random feeling of praying whenever-nonstop. (not too good of an idea in school since i NEED to start paying more attention). It’s just weird how He responds to prayer. Something I will never forget is when I prayed for 4 hours straight (not trying to show off, really), thanking God for what He has done in my whole life. I had to go to go to school an hour later, but the 1 hour of sleep I got was THE MOST refreshing I have EVER had. I thank the Lord for that much needed rest.
The thing that jumped out to me over and over as I read the entry was the word quality. I am often tempted to equate time in prayer, with good prayer. I think what the verses above teach is that a short time of quality prayer (talking, but also listening) is better than a long time of prayer, where I just ramble on and don’t listen. To me prayer should be an attitude, just like worship.
When i think of prayer and how timly God is by answering our reguest. 1st you need to ask yourself is the prayer for me only.I don”t think so ! As Gods word tells us you are the one who is requesting from God,you must have a clean heart. Thats called CONFESSING your sins and faults to your loving God.Then our hearts are clear from all the mess,then are request are genuine. so as you pray with that clean heart have faith trusting and beliving that God will direct your steps.
I’ve been thinking about prayer alot lately. I feel much the same way, I don’t have a consistent prayer time set aside each day, but I spend most of my day having “conversation” with God.
I think sometimes we feel the need to have a set time or lengthy time of prayer merely because we crave the quiet fellowship of just kneeling at the throne and dwelling in His presence. Nothing beats that!
I’ve started keeping a weekly blessing log this year and that’s been an encouragement to me. Not just because I can see how God answers prayer, but I am reminded how faithful He is, even when I’m not. Sometimes when we see how many “little” things God is doing in our lives, it blows my mind!! I tend to overlook those little things if I don’t write them down.