Prayer is such a simple word that we claim as a simple thing to do. However, when it comes down to it, prayer is one of the things that many of us struggle with the most.
But why?
When I was a little girl, I learned a prayer that would become one of repetition for years to come.
"As I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep.
If I die before I wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take."
I do not think there is any possible way that I could forget this prayer even if I tried. To you, it may sound like a prayer you hear children recite in a horror movie advertisement, but to me it's a prayer that changed my world. I don't remember how old I was when I learned it, all I can remember is laying down to bed every night growing up and making sure I said my prayers before I went to sleep.
I also remember rushing this prayer. A 4 line prayer out of my 24 hour day, and I rushed it. I can tell you now that the reason I rushed it was because after years and years of saying it, I realized I wasn't getting thing out of it. I was tired of having a repetitive prayer life. It was dry and I was thirsty. I wanted to say more, but I didn't know how to get it.
I also didn't truly understand the meaning behind prayer at this time either. As a young girl, all I knew was that it was good for me to talk to God. Once I realized how tired of praying I had become I felt a wave of shame and embarrassment wash over me. And at this time in my life, instead of figuring out how to make my prayer life thrive, I let it wither as I walked away from it. I took the easy way out. Besides, I figured that God was upset with me since I didn't know what else to say to Him. I told myself that I wasn't good enough since I didn't have all the right words He expected to hear from me.
And as I write this ten years later, the only thing I feel shamed and embarrassed about is ever assuming that the God I just described to you is the God we serve.
The reason that we struggle so often with prayer is because it's a discipline. The word is simple, but getting into the habit of it not easy. In order to properly thrive through prayer, we must be intentional about our prayer lives and hold ourselves accountable to them. Now, hear me when I say that I am not calling prayer a task. A discipline requires extra time and attention in order to make it something that naturally becomes a part of our everyday lives. Prayer is a spiritual discipline, and we must be attentive to its need.
Now, some of you may be reading this and thinking, "I know this, but one thing I really don't have a clear understanding of is how to pray." I don't want to be that girl who tells you that prayer is simply talking to God, but that's exactly what it is. There are, however, many outlets that you can use in order to see your prayer life blossom in a multitude of ways, and I want to share with you some of the outlets of which I am talking about.
We use prayer to connect with God in ways we wouldn't be able to anywhere else simply because the communication experienced through prayer is a type of communication that cannot be experienced anywhere else.
If your prayer life is feeling a little dry or, if you are open to exploring different outlets, I encourage you to try a few, if not all of the following:
1) Lectio Divina- Latin for "Divine Reading," lectio divina is a practice of prayer that will have quite the impact on your prayer life if you allow it to. There are four steps to this prayer.
The first, reading (lectio). Choose a passage of Scripture and read it at a slow enough pace that will allow you to reflect on it. Allow the Word to sink into you. Hold on to a word or phrase that sticks out to you in the reading.
The second stage of this prayer practice is reflection (meditatio). Use this time to think about the word or phrase that stuck out to you. Really meditate on this and think about why it stuck out to you, what it meant then, and what it means to you now. How does this word or phrase apply to you today?
The third stage of lectio divina is response (oratio). This stage is dedicated to clearing our inmost thoughts as much as we possibly can in order to allow the Word of God that you have just taken in to touch and change you. Let the Word transform you.
Finally, the fourth stage of lectio divina is rest (contemplatio). This stage is meant for you to not only rest in God's presence, but for you to find enjoyment and comfort as you soothe yourself in His presence as well. Enjoy a time of wordless, quiet rest in the presence of the One who delights in you every moment of every day.
2) A Prayer of Thanksgiving- If you enjoy counting your blessings, this is a great prayer practice for you! Count your blessings out loud to God and thank Him for each and every one of them. Thank God for Who He is, what He's done, what He's doing, and what He is going to do.
3) Meditation- Are you a deep thinker? Take your thoughts to the next level by keeping your entire focus on them for a solid amount of time. Meditate on these thoughts as you allow the Spirit to guide you through them.
4) Intercession Prayer- Have you ever just randomly thought of someone? I know I have. Next time that happens, consider that this person might have been placed on your heart for a reason. Say a prayer for them. Pray a blessing over their life. Take the time to pray for the important people in your life more often. Take the time to pray for the unfamiliar faces you pass everyday. I love reading Paul's prayer to the Ephesians over my family and friends. It's a beautiful prayer of spiritual growth, and I encourage you to read it over your family and friends as well. You can find this prayer in Ephesians 3:14-21. The New Living Translation version of this prayer is my favorite.
5) Praise and Worship- This is my all time favorite practice of prayer. The most meaningful encounters that I have experienced with God have, for the most part, been received through worship. I'm at my most vulnerable when I do worship my Creator, and He holds me as I shout praise to Him.
There are so many types of prayer that you can experiment with. These are just a few that I hope you can find enjoyment in.
One thing that I want to remind you of is this: Prayer is a two-way street. Too often do we do more than enough talking and not enough listening. I want to challenge you to spend time resting in God's presence and listening for what He has to say. Let Him speak to your heart.Sometimes God just needs us to be still and know, so do not stress yourself if you don't hear anything. Still listen and have hope that the Lord can speak and pierce through your life, because He can and He will. Believe the Father is good as you sit, listen, and wait for a spiritual exchange to take place.
Prayer allows us to see through the lens of Christ. Enjoy an ongoing conversation with the God who remains by your side now and will remain by your side always. Use this God-given gift to its fullest extent and be abundantly blessed, ladies.
"Constant prayer will only 'burden' us as wings burden the bird in flight." -Dallas Willard
About the Author :
Emily Townsend is a 20 year old southern girl who has a heart for loving Jesus, loving others, and serving the world. She is currently pursuing a career in ministry as she continues to fall madly in love with Jesus by the day. Emily is also obsessed with books, coffee, koalas, Pinterest, Pilates, and weddings. Her daily dose of life consists of a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus. You can also find her blogging on her personal blog The Joy of My Joy.
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