Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you KNOW that you need to pray, but your prayers feel like empty words because for whatever reason at that moment you feel distant or disconnected from the Holy Spirit?
Recently I was rerouted to ride on a local bus because my train was not running. I went in feeling upbeat, not worried about the possible delay because I had given myself extra time. Less than 10 minutes in, my cool started to fade. We were packed in the bus like sardines, my back began to hurt from the awkward position I was standing in, a stranger’s behind was bumping into mine every few seconds, there was no room to put my backpack on the floor, so I had to hold the heavy bag in my hand, and the bus was stopped in traffic, not moving at all. Then, just as I was starting to take some deep breaths to regain my cool, a mentally ill man in the back of the bus began an angry monologue, most of which was undecipherable.
After about three or four minutes straight of this man’s yelling and screeching noises, some youths began to laugh hysterically and mock him, while also providing the whole bus with a continuous supply of fart noises. The bus was still not moving at this point, so we were a captive audience as the mentally ill man got more and more worked up. At this point, a man in the back of the bus snapped and began to yell curses and threats at the mentally ill man. It was at this point that I felt the need to pray, but I was so affected by what was going on around me that I could not focus on my prayers, they felt like empty words.
Sincere prayer doesn’t always come as easy as flipping a light switch, sometimes it’s more like turning a rotary light dimmer up slowly. Very slowly. Thankfully, the Bible has some wisdom that can help us in this situation.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NIV
“In all circumstances”… This verse is usually used in reference to how we should approach difficult seasons in our lives, but it is also relevant to when and how we pray. I was struggling as I prayed because I skipped straight to “the ask”… the “Jesus please” part of the prayer, without really acknowledging who Jesus is. But when I tried again and began with “thank you…” my prayer came to life!
Sometimes we have trouble in prayer because we have temporarily disconnected or forgotten just who our heavenly Father is. Jesus included a thankful heart and acknowledgement of who the Father is, when he taught the disciples how to pray:
““This, then, is how you should pray:
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’” Matthew 6:9-13 NIV
The thank you part of prayer is not to alert God that He is good and doing great things, it is to alert ourselves that He is. Thanking God helps us to remember who He is, what he has done, how faithful He has been, and gives us faith that He will do it again!
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 NIV
“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Romans 10:17 NIV
Once we remember how God has moved in our lives or the lives of people we know, we are reminded of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and regain an understanding of God’s character. We shift from feeling obligated or numb in prayer, to hungry in prayer. Hungry for more of God’s goodness, faithfulness, greatness to be shown. The Holy Spirit is activated in us, and our prayers start to align with the heart of the Lord.
This can even be applied to praying for people that we just do not get along with, because it helps us see others through a Kingdom perspective. In conflict or tense relationships, I challenge you to begin praying for the person who is bothering you/who is against you. It won’t be easy, but it will be so worth it.
The prayer may start out a little petty, but be persistent:
Thank you Lord for loving us, that you could love someone as RUDE, SELFISH, and STUBBORN as ‘so and so’…. Thank you that you give me confidence and peace so I don’t need to worry about ‘so and so’s’ opinion of me….
And in our honesty and willingness to go to the Father about it, the prayer becomes something like this:
Wow, WOW. Thank you Lord for loving ‘so and so’ despite their shortcomings… just like you love me with all of my shortcomings. My confidence and peace come from YOU! The most high, the one who is able and willing to answer my prayers. The God who will make something GOOD come of all of this. Lord, please continue to work in ‘so and so’s’ heart, AND in mine, and give me the patience to see your will through. Help me see ‘so and so’ how you see them Lord. In the mighty name of Jesus, AMEN!
I want to note that when praying for your enemies or adversaries (especially when angry) it is important not to forget why you are praying in the first place. The parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18 teaches us that prayer is not meant to exalt ourselves (ex: thank you Lord for making me so much better than ‘so and so’…). The purpose of prayer when we are praying for our enemies is to not only to end the conflict, but to further God’s will. Even when angry and hurt, prayer is a powerful weapon against the poison that the enemy is trying to spread.
Praying for our adversaries is just what the heart of God wants us to do:
““You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 NIV
Jesus knows our thoughts and feelings, but we need to invite Him into our minds and hearts to be changed. We need to invite His holy presence into our prayers, so that they will be effective. So, as Tasha Cobbs so passionately sings, ‘put a praise on it’! Start with a thank you.
Love,
Amber
Additional Scripture:
“The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24 NIV
“Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1 NIV
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 NIV
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
Food for thought (or conversation):
- What has the Lord done in your life specifically that remind you of his character?
- Thinking about someone you have a conflict with, what will you thank God about for them?