“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” – Acts 2:42 (NRSV)
“Adversity does not build character, it reveals it.” – James Lane Allen
Life in the age of pandemic – trying times indeed. If ever there was a season that has revealed much to us about ourselves, now is that time.
As one of those who have stopped to reflect on how I have been responding and acting, I have discovered a deep truth. I am not who I thought I was.
I discovered in The Crucible Project and in recovery work – that the biggest problem in my life is myself. And I have discovered new ways to live and respond to my family, friends, clients and others. It’s been a good journey.
What about the way I live and respond to God?
Take for example, my prayer life. I’ve had a short attention span with God in prayer. Let’s just say – the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
I find myself going off course in prayer – being inconsistent – and wondering what to do.
The character of my prayer has been revealed to be about me. When I’m angry, my prayers are angry. When I’m sad, my prayers are sad. My prayers are flighty and unfocused. And that’s if I pray at all.
Brian Zahnd states, “The primary purpose of prayer is not to get God to do what we think God ought to do, but to be properly formed.”
The verse from Acts mentioned above – shows how the early community of God was being formed. They did four things:
- Learned the apostle’s teachings about Jesus (The Bible)
- Were in fellowship with each other (Community)
- The weekly breaking of bread (Communion)
- And “The Prayers” – Here we go!
“The Prayers” is descriptive of the early church teachings of the Creeds and Prayers that the followers of Jesus recited. They were being properly formed by these liturgical truths.
There’s no such thing as dead liturgy – only true or false liturgy. There are dead or alive people. Using the Creeds and Prayers is like putting up a trellis for vines to grow. It takes the pressure off the soul and allows us truth to cling to and focus on – while we become formed in the likeness of Jesus. Jesus taught us this.
When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray – he did:
Our Father, Who Art In Heaven
Hallowed Be Thy Name
Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done
On earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us,
And led us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil,
For Thine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory forever. Amen.
There are so many amazing time tested prayers and creeds. (The Apostle’s Creed, Nicene Creed, The Jesus Prayer, The Beatitudes in Matt 5, Psalm 23, Prayer of St. Francis, Confessional Prayers). I realize I am joining with past and present Jesus followers in prayer.
I started praying a set of them every morning – and it’s been transformational.
My mind can focus on my heart – and my heart focuses on the deep truths of these rich treasures. I even use my body in raising my hands, or moving about. It fulfills the “Love the Lord God with your Heart, Soul, Mind & Strength” that is so important!
Here’s a confessional example I pray and how it’s changing me:
Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent.
For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.
I am so much more in tune with my neighbors – all people I come in contact with – I am more tender and empathetic and helpful. Why? God is forming me during my morning prayer time.
I do this every day. My challenge to you is get a set of these prayers – and pray them for 30 days.
Blessings as we journey with Jesus together.