Many people look at a pastor and I can almost guarantee certain things are going through their head. Once they get over the idea/shock of “Aaaah, a pastor!” (picture Kevin in Home Alone when he puts on After Shave for the first time) certain thoughts will probably go through their head. Not all and not all at the same time, but there are certain preconceived ideas people have. Here are just a few of them:
- We are soft and don’t know what it means to work hard. I beg to differ on that. I may not work physically like a laborer or wrestle with kids all day, but mental tiredness is nothing to shake a stick at. Plus, have you ever tried to wrestle with cranky and cantankerous old people? 🙂 (Not that I have any at the moment). {Note: the whole COVID thing did a number on many pastors. They still haven’t recovered mentally.}
- We only work one day a week. (Sort of like teachers only work 9 months and have 3 months off for vacation). I had someone tease me about that just yesterday. I laughed. He knows better. Actually, I asked him if he was jealous. 🙂
- We never have bad thoughts, get angry, have our feelings hurt, or want to tell someone off. (No comment).
- We have it all together spiritually; spend our days reading our Bible, praying, reading books, and studying.
It is that latter one that is so far off track I hate to say how far. I’m almost ashamed to admit it is so not true. And the biggest culprit of all is my prayer life. Each morning I get up, shower, dress (hooray for that), then have about an hour of what is called by some a “Quiet Time.” A few years ago I started calling it my “Encounter Time” because that is what I want it to be. Honestly? Sometimes it is and sometimes it is not.
Especially when it comes to my prayer life. There are mornings my prayer time is spot on. Others not so. I can tell when I have been negligent or less that consistent. My public prayer-from the pulpit, in a gathering, at the bedside in a hospital to name a few-seem more mechanical than heartfelt. Words come out of my mouth, but they bypass my heart.
Prayer was important to Jesus. He would often get away and go off by Himself to pray. He would pray for wisdom, like when He chose His 12 followers. He would pray when He was seeking solace. He prayed when He was tired and needed to just get away. He prayed when rejected and needed a recharge. He prayed for courage (Garden of Gethsemane). He prayed to surrender.
The question that haunts me is this: if Jesus though it that important, why should I think of it any less? OUCH!
So…how is your prayer life these days?
Prayer is one of the areas I struggle with the most yet is the most impactful and important means to communicate and relate with our Father God. I struggle with sitting down for long periods and being still. I often talk to God, rarely do I stop to listen to Him. More often than not I tell Him how thankful I am, I bring my dirty laundry, I pray for a few people or situations that I happen to remember, I ask for direction, and then step away from the conversation before listening for a response. Come to think of it… It isn’t much of a conversation at all, but me simply walking into the room and talking for a few minutes before leaving and continuing my day. I do pause throughout the day and recognize His presence in situations and conversations. Knowing that God lives in me through His Spirit makes ongoing conversation throughout the day common, but addressing God the Father directly is a struggle. Strange as it may sound. Jesus priovidedy model prayer, not a ritualistic prayer as a way to address His Father. His prayer was short, to the point and addresses seeking forgiveness, thankfulness, direction, adoration, and worship in just a few sentences, but this isn’t the only time we see Jesus praying. The model prayer perhaps just the starting point. You don’t know what to pray, start here…. Then stop and listen… Stop Stop , no really… Stop and listen.
Well said Ryan and very honest. Listening is hard. We tend to spill and then move on without taking into consideration that God does want us to stop and listen. There is really so much here it is a blog post of its own. 🙂 Want to write one?
Thanks for your honesty, Bill. Sometimes my prayers reflect Psalm 63:1–the dry and thirsty land. I think we all experience that but don’t like to admit it.
Oh Pam. I can’t even remember how many times I have prayed that Scripture because I felt that way. Isaiah 55 is another one.
I just read a great book on prayer life by JD Greear. I wish my prayer life did not have so many hiccups. There are days where I am super focused, prayers are just flowing, I feel like a strong pray warrior. Then there are days, my thoughts ramble, my mind drifts to a list of things to get done, I leave people out that I wanted to pray for. I do try to have focused pray times, but I also just try to stop and pray little prayers throughout the day. To have a strong spiritual life is hard work, if you approach it lackadaisical that is exactly the results you will have. When God said seek me with your whole heart and soul, God knew that commitment would mean that we would need to make sacrifices in our life to place God first in our lives where God always belongs.
your scenario is way too common for most followers of Christ, Gail, at least this one. There are days I feel like “Bring it on!” and then there are days I want to hide lest I get my backside kicked in. I’m glad he is a forgiving God.
Thanks for your honesty, Bill. I feel this way about prayer, too. Always striving to do better…
Thanks Sally. It is a constant battle for sure.
How is my prayer life? Not as energetic or consistent as it should be. I find myself praying for people and situations at various times of each day as I am reminded of the need unique to each one. It is a goal of mine to spend more time with our Father and His Son.
Blessings, Bill!
I think you are describing “Pray without ceasing” Martha. Not an every moment “God help me” but an attitude of prayer and praying whenever people come to mind.
Yeah, when I pray it’s recently just a word.. or rather a name: “Jesus!”
No better Name Ed. or word.