Commit to Prayer
Stop.
Close your eyes and quiet your mind. Take some deep breaths. As you breathe in say, “I am in your presence.” As you breathe out say, “I bring this to you.” Repeat as many times as you need.
Listen.
Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. – Ephesians 6:18
Reflect.
Maybe you’ve been there before: someone reveals the difficult thing they’re going through. They talk about a diagnosis, a broken relationship, a work conflict, or their personal struggle. You listen, encourage, and share your love. And then, at the end, you say something like, “I’ll pray for you.”
And then you go on with your day and never actually do.
We’ve all been there. We know we’re supposed to pray, we know we get to pray, we know it’s something powerful and meaningful that we can offer in a situation when we can do little else, and still, we rarely actually pray. Soon, the offer to pray becomes meaningless, the stereotypical “thoughts and prayers” that people offer when they will do absolutely nothing to resolve a painful situation. Don’t let this make you angry, guilty, or evasive. Instead, consider ways you might recommit to the work of prayer and let others know how much it means to you.
We are invited to pray for others constantly, the “supplication for all the saints” that Ephesians mentions. Knowing that we’re forgetful, busy, and sometimes nervous about prayer, we have to do what we can to help support that work. Instead of saying you will pray for someone, what if you offer to pray for them right then and there? Then you join with them in prayer, you don’t put the prayer off, and you ensure that you’ve put in the time and work that you know you can. If the conversation is not in real time, like through email or text, can you stop right away to pray for that person, and then respond that you have prayed and will keep praying? Long term, can you keep a prayer journal? All you need is a notebook and a pen that you keep close by. You can write the request on a page, include the date, and then pay attention for when that prayer might be resolved.
If prayer for others is an essential part of our faith lives – and it is – then we can use whatever tricks and tools we need to ensure our prayer is just as constant as it needs to be. Keep offering prayer for others. Keep connected to the needs of God’s world. Keep showing up. It’s always worth it.
Pray.
God, you know all the people, places, and things on my mind right now. Help me name them specifically. Help me remember to bring them to you often. Help me be an agent of your power through my prayer. Thank you for this holy responsibility. Amen.
Carry On.
Today’s the day! No more promising yourself you’ll remember to pray next time. What tool do you want to use to help make you a more engaged person of prayer? Commit to it today.