This latest blog comes from Heidi Damon, reflecting on our March series on prayer. (She’s not behind the times, we just forgot to post it at the right moment!).
What is prayer? What difference does it make? Why and how should we pray? What about unanswered prayer? These are a just a few of the big questions about prayer that probably most of us have reflected on as we seek to master the art of prayer. Richard Foster said the following; “Of all spiritual disciplines prayer is the most central because it ushers us into perpetual communion with the Father.” Prayer is seen as a key discipline of the Christian faith and a commandment to all believers. Scripture tells us to ‘pray without ceasing’ how can we possibly do this when we live such busy lives? Prayer today can seem like a difficult task, how then does one remain focused and listen to God’s voice when we have so many things demanding our immediate attention?
Understanding that prayer is a conversation which opens up a dialogue with God has been a foundational truth for my prayer life. Prayer has become about an ongoing conversation rather then a task added to my to do list. As a conversation with my most trusted friends can change me, prayer has become that conversation, in which I have allowed God into my innermost being, giving him permission to change me. However as I have learned it’s easy to say prayer is a conversation therefore I don’t need to stop and give specific time to that conversation. This has been when my prayer life has suffered the most, if I am prepared to give my full attention to those in front of me why would I then not stop and create space and time to have that conversation with God.
When we are able to create that space and time, a beautiful dance commences in which we are transformed, in which trust is established, in which faith is increased, in which our deepest sorrows and fears are shared, in which desires are established and in which we are able to get a glimpse into the world that God desires for us. I leave you with a quote by Søren Kierkegaard who says,
The function of prayer is not to influence God, but rather to change the nature of the one who prays.