Tag: pray

The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing, to pray continually. This seems to be an impossible task. If we always prayed, we’d be doing nothing but praying.

However, Brother Lawrence did approach this goal, learning over the course of many years to be in a constant attitude of prayer as he went about his daily activities.

But Brother Lawrence lived in a setting that would be ideal for this (a monastery) and during a much slower-paced era (some five centuries ago).

Surely this isn’t feasible today with our busy lives overflowing with activity.

Although I, too, consider this as unattainable, I was at least motivated to be on the lookout for people and situations warranting prayer. I guess I made progress in that area, although it was confirmed in an odd way.

Once while watching TV, the protagonist was in a bad situation and faced a critical decision. I asked God to protect him and that he would choose wisely.

I quickly caught myself, embarrassed for treating fantasy as reality, while at the same time realizing I was developing a subconscious prayer life.

For the next several months this tendency to pray for fictional characters continued, apparently mirroring a growing real-life practice.

I don’t pray for characters in television and movies anymore. I wonder if I don’t pray as much for real-life people either.

I wonder how I can better pray without ceasing.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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Have you ever had someone ask you to “pray hard?” I have. Often it’s for a pressing personal issue or a distressing situation—and they implore me to “pray hard.”

When they say this, I think I know what they mean—or at least I hope I do. I think “pray hard” means, “This is serious, so don’t take it lightly—and don’t forget!”

However, they could be expressing an understanding of God that might be a bit off. If by “pray hard” they mean, “put forth more effort” or “work hard to get God’s attention,” then they’re implying that our degree of effort affects God’s response.

A similar situation is when a person prays and doesn’t like God’s answer. He or she may say, “I guess I just didn’t pray hard enough.”

I think this perspective puts too much responsibility on us and diminishes God’s character in the process.

Yes, we do need to pray, but I don’t see God expecting us to jump through hoops or devote a certain amount of time before he listens and answers.

Sometimes a prayer may be a short, simple sentence. Other times it may be more lengthy or a mere groan. Sometimes we may pray for a situation just once and other times it may be every day, for weeks, months, or years.

These are all appropriate ways that God may lead us to pray, but to “pray hard” in order to get his attention isn’t one of them.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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People who pray on a regular basis, at some point, are likely to end up in a rut—a prayer rut. (Conversely, people who don’t pray on a regular basis may also be in a prayer rut of sorts, albeit a different kind.)

A prayer rut may be likened to trying to extricate a stuck car: the wheels are spinning, but you’re not going anywhere. Or it may feel like nothing more than vain repetition or that God isn’t listening—or worse yet, that he doesn’t care.

Whatever the cause, the associated emotions are overwhelming and the way out, seemingly impossible. I suspect that being in a prayer rut is a function of our own doing, not God’s.

When I feel my prayers are going nowhere or I privately ponder if they are a waste of time, my solution is to switch things up, to place temporary limits or goals on what I will or won’t pray.

In one particularly difficult season, I pledged that my prayers would contain no petitions for myself, only for others.

After a few weeks had passed and I felt that the runt was sufficiently behind me, I again allowed myself to make personal requests—but only for spiritual issues, not physical ones. Eventually, I removed this limit as well.

For smaller ruts, I have resorted to uttering prayers with no requests—only praises to God…or just giving thanks…or only offering confession (a particularly challenging effort).

Sometimes I use the Lord’s prayer as a template, forming a more balanced and God-centric focus. There are also times of praying without words—just listening.

Regardless, I eventually find myself no longer trapped in the rut and my prayer time with the almighty has returned to a balanced and appropriate exchange.

This gives me joy, peace, and contentment, which I suspect may be God’s perspective as well.

Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.

Read more in his books, blog, and weekly email updates.

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