May 8, 2015 – “P” is for Prayer

The Lutheran Book of Prayer is a great resource for any Lutheran, if not anyone looking for assistance with their prayer life. Here is a quote from the opening pages of the newest edition of the LBP:

“…prayers of Christians are not futile gestures or mere pious exercises but mighty means by which we call upon G*d for help and strength for the various needs of faith and life. Many Christians, when meditating on the situation in which they are placed, desire to have some thoughts, words and phrases suggested in which their inmost longing can become definite and articulate.”

Prayers come in many different types. There are prayers for others, or intercessory prayers. There are prayers of Thanksgiving, thanking G*d for the many blessings we or others have received. There are prayers for healing – prayers for guidance – prayers for understanding – prayers used in worship – prayers that open or close meetings, dinners, and special events. There are so many prayers, written, spoken, and prayed in our lives we could not keep them in a book that we can carry around. And yet there are prayer books that exist that we can carry around. The joke has been told that if you ask a Lutheran to say a prayer, you need to give them long enough to write it out. We are good at praying to ourselves, and not so good at saying prayers at congregational dinners. All prayer takes practice, patience, persistence, and takes perseverance. Your prayer life will blossom the more you pray, and the more you sit listening for G*d to answer your prayers.

We need to be careful that our prayers do not become “To Do” lists for G*d – or become demands for G*d. I believe that all prayer needs to begin with this statement: “Heavenly Father thank you for the blessings you have heaped upon us…” No matter if you are praying for healing, for help with spiritual warfare, or praying for guidance and understanding, we need to be thankful for all that G*d has blessed us.

Pastor Dave