The One Right Way to Pray.

Listen here:  https://www.pastorwoman.net/podcast/episode/1e1a13b0/the-one-right-...

"The proper way for men to pray," said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,

"and the only proper attitude is down upon the knees."

"No, I should say, the way to pray," said Reverend Dr. Wise,

"is standing straight with arms outstretched with rapt and upturned eyes."

"Oh, no, no," said Elder Slow, "such posture is too proud.

A man should pray with eyes fast closed and head contritely bowed."

"Last year I fell in Hidgkin's well head first," said Cyrus Brown,

"With both my heels a-stickin' up, and my head a-pointin' down.

I prayed a prayer right then and there, the best prayer I ever said;

the prayingest prayer I ever prayed was standin' on my head."1 

The prayingest prayers I ever prayed were the ones that came from my most desperate situations - things I could not change, situations I could not correct, people or relationships I could not heal. Perhaps that is why the woman in this story beckons me. She was not a quitter, and well, it seems like too many people quit today. Interesting that Luke is the only gospel writer to include this parable of Jesus.

He writes:

And he [Jesus] told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” Luke 18.1-8, esv

In the story, the judge tires of the widow's unrelenting requests and grants her justice. Jesus uses this story about the persistent widow to illustrate to the disciples the power and promise of persistence in prayer.  God responds to the one who persists in prayer--a truth demonstrated throughout the Bible. 

Matthew recorded a slightly expanded take on prayer as Jesus pointed out that if we parents know how to give our children good gifts, how much more does our loving Heavenly Father! (Our Father is not at all like the 'unrighteous judge' in this parable; this is a parable of contrasts)  As a tenacious child keeps asking, so we are to keep on asking God.²  

'But, but,' you say, 'do you know how long I have prayed?'

Actually, I do. I know - I get it … the rub is in the wait.  We have become accustomed to almost instant gratification - and when we cannot get things when we want or as we want them, we are likely to get weary, give up or even grow bitter, especially if we do not think God is hearing us. But Jesus said Keep asking, Keep seeking, Keep knocking!

With this in my mind, I went to my bookshelves to retrieve one of my favorite books on prayer, highlighting that prayer is a generous gift from a loving God. It is not a chore or a task to be scratched off our proverbial to do list; rather it is a divine encounter with a living, all-powerful, benevolent God.  The Circlemaker also inspired me to step a little closer to the persistent widow; honestly, I became a wannabe.  The author, Mark Batterson, lit a fire in me to keep on carrying my requests to God in prayer, and like our widow, not grow weary of asking God to come and do what only he can do!  [Can I get an 'Amen!' here?]

Have any prayers that have gone unanswered?  ‘Loved ones who have turned a deaf ear to the goodness of God and the difference he could make in their lives?  I know that makes your heart ache, oh believe me, I understand!  Do not give up on them.  Carry them to Jesus daily, again and again.  Join me as we "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."³

While the future of eternal things might seem somewhat mysterious, especially as described in the book of Revelation, one thing is very clear and tells me so much about prayer and the heart of God. The prayers of God’s people are saved in golden bowls.⁴ 

So pray.  From your heart, talk to your Father, and for goodness' sake, do it early in the day! Recognize the God of the Universe as your Creator and Lord, Jesus as your Savior and Friend, and the Holy Spirit of God as your Advocate, Confidante and Comforter. Oh, how rich is the triune God with whom we can have relationship! Give God your cares, tell him your needs - and those of your precious loved ones, give him your heartaches, your doubts, and of course, express your gratitude. Confess your sins, receive his forgiveness. Ask for his wisdom, favor and blessing each day. Thank him over and over for his good gifts - He waits for you and longs to hear from you.  How I love that about him!

You see, even when you do not think so . . . he does.  God hears, God sees and he never forgets.  What’s more - He will answer.  Yeah, the one right way to pray is to not give up!

Don't stop praying! listen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpbZqMJ-B44

Christine - PastorWoman.net

Luke, #53

1 - Sam Walter Foss

2 - Matthew 7.7-11

3 - Hebrews 12.1

4 - Revelation 5.8