Prayer is not so much about us bending God’s will to our requests but our will bowing to His. Prayer positions us: it positions us under the submission of God’s power instead of that of our circumstances.
In the rhythm of our lives, it’s easy to get swept away by the current of daily demands and distractions. Like a boat drifting from its moorings, our spiritual lives can subtly move away from the foundational practices that sustain us. This week, we’re called to return to one of the most vital of these practices: personal prayer. As Hebrews 2:1 reminds us, we must “pay much closer attention than ever to the things that we have heard, so that we do not [in any way] drift away from truth.” We have heard the call to prayer from Jesus himself, a practice he not only taught but exemplified.
For many, prayer feels like a chore, a performance requiring eloquent words and a specific tone. We imagine God in a “box seat,” judging our spiritual theatrics. But Jesus, in Matthew 6:5-15, shatters this misconception. He invites us to a different kind of prayer, one that is not about outward show but inward connection.
Prayer isn’t a verbal performance; it’s presence. Jesus urges us to “Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.” The invitation is profound: “Just be there.” Like a friend who simply desires our company, God doesn’t demand a polished presentation. He yearns for our genuine presence. Psalm 46:10 echoes this: “Be still… and know that I am God.” To be still before God is to acknowledge His presence, to allow ourselves to simply be with Him. As Mother Teresa wisely observed, “God is the friend of silence.” In the quiet, we create space for His presence to fill us, enabling us to give more fully in our active lives. Jesus himself sought such solitary places, demonstrating the power of silent communion. When we offer ourselves in stillness, we are not just asking for things; we are giving Him the greatest gift: ourselves.
Prayer positions us: it positions us under the submission of God’s power instead of that of our circumstances. When we pray, we “hallow” God’s name, making Him holy in our hearts and minds. This isn’t about making God holy—He already is—but about acknowledging His holiness in our lives. We bring our weaknesses, imperfections, and struggles under the covering of His perfect power. This act of hallowing is an act of submission, placing our incompleteness under His wholeness.
Prayer is not so much about us bending God’s will to our requests but our will bowing to His. Consider Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane (Luke 22:42). He honestly expressed his desire for the “cup of suffering” to be taken away, yet he concluded with ultimate surrender: “Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” This isn’t transactional prayer, where we demand our desires be met. This is relational prayer, where we present our requests with vulnerability and then surrender them to God’s sovereign will, finding peace in His ultimate control and perfect plan, even when it involves hardship. As Mother Teresa articulated, “Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depth of our hearts.”
Prayer gives us heavenly perspective. The story of Elisha and his servant in 2 Kings 6 beautifully illustrates this. When surrounded by the Aramean army, the servant saw only overwhelming danger. But Elisha, through prayer, asked God to open his servant’s eyes, revealing the “horses and chariots of fire all around.” Prayer shifted the servant’s perspective from victimhood to authority, from earthly despair to heavenly reality. It empowered him to fight from victory, not for victory.
So, how do we return to this essential practice? Jesus provides a simple model: a certain time, a certain place, a certain plan. Mark 1:35 shows us Jesus rising “very early in the morning, while it was still dark,” going “off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” We can emulate this by intentionally setting aside time and choosing a private place. For a “certain plan,” consider the “LOOK” method, a simple yet profound guide for your personal prayer time:
- Look Up at God in worship (Psalm 100:4): Begin by acknowledging God’s greatness, His character, and His love.
- Look Inwards at yourself with confession (1 John 1:9): Humbly admit your shortcomings and receive His forgiveness.
- Look Around at others who need God’s intervention (1 Timothy 2:1): Pray for your family, friends, community, and the world.
- Look Backwards in gratitude for God’s blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18): Remember and thank God for His faithfulness in your past.
- Look Forward for provision from God (Philippians 4:6): Present your needs and concerns, trusting in His perfect provision.
“Small disciplines repeated with consistency every day lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”
John Maxwell
Reflective Questions:
- In what ways have you found yourself drifting from consistent prayer in your life? What “life’s distractions” have contributed to this drift?
- How does the idea of prayer as “presence” rather than “verbal performance” challenge your current understanding or practice of prayer?
- Can you recall a time when you experienced a shift in perspective or a sense of peace after surrendering your will to God’s in prayer, even if the outcome wasn’t what you initially desired?
- Considering the “LOOK” method (Look Up, In, Around, Back, Forward), which of these five focuses do you feel most comfortable with, and which do you find most challenging to incorporate into your prayer life? Why?
- What concrete “next step”—a certain time, a certain place, or a specific part of the “LOOK” plan—will you commit to this week to cultivate a deeper practice of personal prayer?
Closing Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the invitation to come before You in prayer, not as a performance, but as a beloved child simply being present with their Father. Forgive us for the times we have drifted, for the distractions that have pulled us away from this vital connection. We pray that You would teach us to be still, to truly be with You, surrendering our will to Yours and trusting in Your perfect plan, even when it’s difficult. Open our eyes, Lord, to gain Your heavenly perspective in every circumstance. Help us to establish a rhythm of prayer—a certain time, a certain place, and a certain plan—so that we may consistently look up in worship, in with confession, around for others, back in gratitude, and forward for Your provision. May our prayer lives be a testament to Your grace and power, transforming us from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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