How Do You Pray?

"The reality is, my prayers don't change God. But, I am convinced prayer changes me.  Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself."

- Lysa TerKeurst

How do you pray? Maybe I should ask, “Do you pray?” Are your prayers rote, impersonal, and methodical? Are you afraid to pray because a bolt of lightning might come down from the heavens, since it has been so long since you’ve talked to God? Maybe it’s not worth the effort - is there even a God listening?

You may compare God to your own abusive or absent father. You don’t want to or have the words to even begin. The thought of a loving Father seems impossible. If that is you, I see you. I’m sorry. My heart aches for you! I’d love to talk to you. You can find healing from your pain. I know it is possible!

Pastor Jared talked this weekend about the posture of praying with a shameless audacity! I picture a relentless, furious, passionate, without-restraint conversation with God, my Father.

In 1 Samuel, we read the story of Hannah. She and her husband, Elkanah, were trying to have a baby, but she was unable to conceive. There was nothing she wanted more than to be blessed with the gift of a child! Deeply distraught, she went to the temple to pray “in deep anguish, crying bitterly.”  She was praying with “SHAMELESS AUDACITY!” Eli, the priest, was standing nearby and saw Hannah, at first thinking she was drunk because of the way she was acting. As he heard her plea, he said to her “May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him.” (v.17)  God did answer Hannah’s relentless prayer and she gave birth to a boy and named him Samuel.

When I look at this passage, two things stand out to me. First, Hannah knew God. She had a relationship with him. Her prayers weren’t rote, nor fearful. She was crying out to Him!

Second, she was surrendered to God. She was not trying to manipulate or find a solution on her own. She knew HE was her source of strength and hope!

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”

- Abraham Lincoln

God doesn’t always give us exactly what we want. He sees the big picture and desires to give us what is best for us! His desire is that we be in relationship and fully surrendered to Him.

That is when our prayers move from religious habit into an authentic connection with God!

Pastor Pam

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