Behold, I will do a new thing. Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19
Sunshine in spring is especially glorious here in the Oregon’s Willamette Valley, especially when it comes after weeks and weeks of rain and cold weather. Greens are greener and the daffodils’ yellow defies imagination. The Lenten roses, with their intricate, delicate detail are magical. The ground is clean and new. The dirt is especially primed for the rains that will inevitably fall for the next few months. The earth is like a sponge in the spring.
Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12
In order to get the best yield of crops, before planting the ground is plowed. Soft soil ensures that water will trickle down to reach seeds and plant roots. On the other hand, if the same soil is completely dry, water may bounce off it and not reach the plant where it is needed. Similarly, when our hearts are soft and ready for prayer, it is possible to soak in God’s goodness. Soft hearts are thirsty hearts.
How did Christ prepare His heart before praying the Lord’s Prayer? First, He acknowledged God. The need to slow down to recognize God before praying should be intuitive: when we first see someone we know, we automatically greet them. Yet we tend to pray the way we spend our busy lives: purpose driven. We go to prayer for a specific purpose. Prayers can be driven by the need to get in, get out and get back to real life. Is that type of prayer as effective as sprinkling water on dry ground? God listens, but are our hearts soft enough for God’s thoughts to penetrate us? During Lent, let’s grant ourselves the luxury of quieting our minds and hearts before praying. Let’s make our hearts ready to see and hear God. See Matthew 13:10-18.
The Practice of Centering
Here are a few ways to slow down in order to limit distractions and facilitate more intimacy with God. Try several to find what works for you. Are there methods not on this list? Please share them with the group via What’s App or in the comments below.
Breath Prayer
1. Breath slowly until you feel your body relaxing.
2. Inhaling the Spirit of God, exhaling your cares and worries.
3. Find a word, such as “trust” or “Jesus” to repeat as you sit quietly, and your mind begins to wander.
4. Repeat a short verse, actively listen for what God may be saying through the verse. Example verses:
Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand. Jeremiah 18:6
My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest. Exodus 33:14
The Jesus Prayer. A historic prayer used especially by Catholic and Orthodox believers.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner.
Physical aids to center in prayer:
A Prayer Shawl
Light a Candle
Reserve a location for prayer at home.
Focus on the outdoors.
Prayer beads.
A change in posture.
Worship in Prayer
The second thing Christ did in The Lord’s Prayer was to worship His Father.
There are 950 names and descriptions of God in the Old Testament. Only 15 OT verses name God as Israel’s Father/husband. In Christ’s day, the idea of God the Father would have been unexpected and therefore, the disciples may have thought it strange when Christ started His prayer with “Our Father.”
Today it is significant when we enter prayer recognizing God for who He is. Rather than praying only for what He can do for us, it is a special treat to slow down to tell our Father how much we love Him. When we STOP to deepen our thoughts with all that God is, we realize our place, our need for Him. It is then possible to relax in the knowledge that God is our Father, we are His children. He is listening. While we are are grass (Psalm 103:15) and dust (Psalm 103:14-16), He is the beginning and the end (Rev. 21:6), a rock, fortress, and deliverer (Psalm 18:2).
In Hebrews 13:15 it is written, “Through Him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledges His name.” Praise is often a sacrifice. It is an act of the will. Lack of time, energy, space, lethargy, to do lists, distraction, depression, disappointment, busyness, fear, etc. interfere. When we make a practice of slowing down to acknowledge God as our Father before we pray, we are more likely to offer our lives as a continual sacrifice of praise.
The Practice of Worship in Prayer
After slowing your mind (and maybe your body), remember to honor God first. Here are some ways to worship God as your Father during prayer:
1. Repeat names and characteristics of God.
2. Pray the Psalms.
3. Take a walk, praising God for His creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19:1, KJV).
4. Pray liturgical prayers, see below.
5. Sing or listen to hymns and choruses.
6. Slowly sing the Doxology several times.
7. Repeat phrases:
I trust you, Father.
Father, Your will be done.
8. Repeat verses such as these:
Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Malachi 2:10
You are my Father. I am the clay, You are the potter. I am the work of Your hand. Isaiah 64:8
You are one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in all. Ephesians 4:6
Worshiping God gives us the opportunity to get to know Him better. Prayer is strongest when it is selfless: a remembrance of the character and ways of the God we are beginning to know and love.
References:
Christian Prayer: The Liturgy of the Hours.
Greig, Pete, How to pray: a simple guide for normal people
Morse, MaryKate, A Guidebook to Prayer
Toolshed Index of Thirty Prayer Tools, http://www.prayercourse. org
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