It’s Christmas time. I recognize this yuletide fact because of a single sign that screams “fa la la” and “ho ho ho": my son starts begging. It’s been his holiday habit since he was old enough to deck the halls. Over the years he has innovated a slug of schemes to persuade me toward a particular gift. He’s taped photos to the fridge. He’s directed the shopping cart down just the right aisle. He once inserted his Christmas dream gift in assorted random sentences that lasted several hours. I have to admit, he’s a creative beggar.And so am I. Except my begging happens on my knees.
Prayer is a creative conversation between man and the Maker and there are countless types of prayers. Some are offerings of adoration. Some are statements of confession. Some are words of thanksgiving. Still others are pleadings for supplication. We all beg for God’s mercy and seek his counsel. We all are spiritually bankrupt wayward sons hungering for home. For me, I’ve learned persistence and patience with my prayers. I’ve realized prayer is not confined to time and space.
I’ve also discovered a variety of prayer strategies to get God’s attention.
Sometimes I raise my hands and surrender. Sometimes I fall to my knees in silence. Sometimes I jump with joy. Sometimes I take a long walk in the woods. Sometimes I lay prostrate. Sometimes I shout aloud. Sometimes I close my eyes. Sometimes I lift my head. Sometimes I hold another’s hand. Sometimes I write my prayers. Sometimes I sing a hymn. Sometimes I draw a picture. Sometimes I dance. Sometimes I sit. Sometimes I light a candle. Sometimes I taste the bread and wine. Sometimes I weep. Sometimes I laugh. Sometimes I confess my doubts. Sometimes I beat my chest. Sometimes I plug my ears. Sometimes I play a song. Sometimes I watch a moving video. Sometimes I sacrifice my time or talent or treasure.
When you think about it, there are hundreds of creative ways to pray. After all, prayer isn’t methodical or even strategic. Prayer is conversation. Prayer is real life. Prayer is personal. It’s why we need to pray all kinds of prayers on all occasions. And though you might think otherwise, our Heavenly Father never tires of our begging.
Which reminds me, I need to get my son that gift. (Ho ho hopefully he's not reading this blog!)
NOTABLE QUOTABLES ON PRAYER:
"Prayer is not getting man's will done in heaven, but getting God's will done on earth. It is not overcoming God's reluctance but laying hold of God's willingness." --Richard C. Trench
"Only those who see the invisible can attempt the impossible." --Dick Eastman
"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." --Alfred Lord Tennyson
"It is the habit of faith, when she is praying, to use pleas. Mere prayer sayers, who do not pray at all, forget to argue with God; but those who prevail bring forth their reasons and their strong arguments" --Charles H. Spurgeon
"God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it." --John Wesley
Father, it seems like our needs never end. Thank you for being patient with our insecurities, instabilities and insolence. We recognize that it’s better to dine on the crumbs from Your Table than the rich delicacies of the devil’s buffet. Help us love You more. Help us hear You longer. Help us know you deeper. Amen.
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