Prayer Pointers

Sometimes misconceptions and false expectations can keep us from being effective in prayer. These suggestions may be helpful for the person wanting to grow in that area of the Christian life.

• Trust the fact that God wants to communicate with you. Don't think of him as far away or utterly removed from your situation. It is his desire and purpose to be near. That's why he created you with the capacity to relate to him. You may have neglected your relationship with him, even rebelled against him. But his love and mercy toward you is constant, "only a prayer away."
• Major on prayers that do not have "answers." The biggest disappointments about prayer occur at this point. To think in terms of "answers" implies that prayer is only petition. Certainly we should make our requests known to God, but that is only one aspect of praying. Prayer itself is more like a conversation. Consider the model prayer which Jesus gave us ("Our Father which art in heaven...") and see what kind of answers that prayer could have.
• In a puzzled or distressed time of your life, pray puzzled, distressed prayers. After all, if a child is upset, his words to his mother sound upset. She understands that; so does God. He doesn't expect poised, logical thought when your life is in turmoil. Though we may be changeable or weak, he is reliable and strong. Expressing your distress opens you to the peace he can give.
• How many times a day do you pray? Do you try to set aside a particular time for fellowship with God? This is good, but remember also that you can communicate with God at any time or place. Just checking in with a thought or sentence prayer can keep you on course, much like a pilot getting instructions and information from ground control.
• What do you expect out of prayer? Is it only an SOS to be used in emergencies, or is it an environment of trust and mutual interchange through which you stay in touch with God's purposes for your life? Prayer ought not to be like a vending machine, where we expect to insert our quarters and get back what we want. Nor is it a security system to protect us from harm or a parachute to bail us out of danger although it may sometimes be that. Rather prayer is communication between friends. The more you talk, the closer the friendship grows.
• Remember that you have to do a lot of the "answering" yourself. God doesn't work for you, he works with you. His purpose is to help you become a fully mature person, which means taking responsibility for yourself and the gifts he has given you. He has given you abilities and wisdom to help you meet the demands of life. In prayer he can give you direction and courage to use those gifts.