Prayer Holds Us Together

Prayer changes us. Prayer orients us. Prayer relieves us.

We don’t pray because we feel that it takes a little too much effort, certainly more than a scroll through any of our half dozen social network apps. Or we don’t pray because we think God doesn’t care about our particular/little concern. Or we don’t pray because we know we’re guilty of a sin that we’re not ready to give up.

But if we don’t pray, can we say we’re acknowledging Him in all our ways? If we don’t pray, isn’t the only other option to lean on our own understanding? How far, really, will that get us?

When was the last “free” moment when you chose to leave your phone in your pocket/purse and you shot an arrow prayer instead? Think of Nehemiah who made quick, urgent requests before answering the king. Do we see that more is happening than what’s in front of our eyes?

In his Lectures on Calvinism Abraham Kuyper made two short comments about how prayer holds us together and how it is a measure of our hold on God.

“In prayer lies not only our unity with God, but also the unity of our personal life.”

“[O]ur prayer remains the deepest expression of all religious life.”

Paul told the Colossians to “devote yourselves to prayer” (Colossians 4:2). What marks a devoted husband? He can’t stop thinking about his wife and would never turn away from her. What marks a devoted fan? He wears his replica jersey with pride and is frustrated out of season.

So pray. Pray for five seconds. Pray for five minutes. Write out a page of prayers. Go for a prayer walk. Pray for help to pray. Pray that the Spirit would make you a man of prayer. Pray, and remember that it is a privilege to have access to the Father through the work of the son. Pray, and remember that the burden of running the world is God’s. Pray without ceasing. Make your requests known to God with thanksgiving.