So how do we become disciplined in prayer? I think to be disciplined in prayer we need to consider ‘what’ of prayer and the ‘when’ of prayer.
Let us start by considering the ‘when’ of prayer. Firstly, we want our prayer life to be continuous. Paul commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5v17 to “pray continually”. Of course it is impossible to have a continual prayer dialogue with God, but the prayer called for here is not so much the articulation of words but the posture of the heart. John Wesley described this much better than I could saying, “His heart is ever lifted up to God as all times and in all places. In this he is never hindered, much less interrupted, by any person or thing…His heart is ever with the Lord. Whether he lie down or rise up, God is in all his thoughts; he walks with God continually”.
Secondly, we want to have a focused time of prayer. Throughout the gospels we see examples of Jesus taking himself away to pray. He knew the importance of a daily uninterrupted time with God. This will vary for all of us. You want to find a time when you will not be disturbed and you are ready and awake. Now I know the lives that we live mean that often our days can be quite varied and it can be difficult to set aside a similar time each day for God. But I do wonder whether we use that as an excuse to let ourselves away with not coming to God each day. If I really tried, I would be able to find time in my day. It doesn’t need to be the exactly same time each day but it over the course of a week I should endeavour to consistency. However, I do think it is a good habit to begin your day with prayer, even just a short time. C.S. Lewis - “The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job of each day consists in shoving them all back; in listening to that other voice…letting that other, larger stronger, quieter like come flowing in.”
So what about the 'whats’ of prayer? In order to ensure that our prayer-time has balance, it is good to remember that there are different kinds of prayer which should find a place in our devotion. Before we look at specifics it is important we understand that our prayer time cannot be reduced to a few simple rules. Our times of prayer should be dynamic and personal. There is no prescribed order. Life's rhythms mean we might spend more time in one that the other. So with the following headings how you might personally incorporate these into your prayer time will vary to someone else, I think a good quality prayer life will have all of them. .
- The look up at God: this is worship. This is giving God the glory which is due his name. It is the best antidote to self-centredness. Jesus taught us to do this. The Lord’s prayer begins with concern for God’s glory and not our own needs. We concentrate on the hallowing of his name, the spreading of his kingdom and the doing of his will. This is not easy to do. We so often want to run straight in with our list of wants and needs. It takes real effort to turn our minds inside our and gaze on God.
- The look in at ourselves: this leads to confession. The word of God should expose our sin, selfishness, pride and greed. So in turn, God’s word should lead us to repentance and confession. We need to be honest about our true nature and bring before God our daily sins and the sins his word has revealed to us. After we recall our sins we must confess, humbly ask and gratefully receive God’s forgiveness and then dwell on them no longer.
- The look round at ourselves: this is intercession. Jesus prayed for His friends and His enemies. Paul prayed for Christians who’d been converted through him, the churches he’d founded, friends he worked with. We too must remember others in prayer. It is the best service of love we can give them. I finding keeping a prayer list the most helpful way of doing this – pray for family, friends, work colleagues, your church, and your small group. Pray also for our country, world issues, Christians around the world. This list could go on. So before you start thinking you need to pray for hours to get through them all, come up with a system. Some people/issues you might want to pray for daily, others weekly and others monthly. However often you pray be specific. Use the Bible to help you pray for other – Paul’s prayers in his letters are really useful.
- The look back at the past: this is thanksgiving. Thanksgiving differs from worship in that in worship with praise God for what he is in Himself, while in thanksgiving we thank Him for what he has done for us. Thanking him for his love shown through Jesus, the grace he has shown to us. The hope of glory we have in the future. The many and numerous ways he blesses us every day.
- The look on to the future: this is petition. Petition has a real place in our prayers. Jesus told us to ask out Heavenly Father to supply all our needs and Paul wrote that we were “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving” to let our “requests be made known to God”. The purpose of such petition is neither to inform God of our needs, as if He were ignorant of them, nor bully Him to meet them as if He were reluctant to do so. We need to pray for our sakes, rather than His. We ask for guidance to know God’s will and strength to do it.
