Imagine a boat at sea. Without a working engine, it is merely a collection of parts floating aimlessly. It is powerless to journey forwards and can no longer carry passengers to safety. Most importantly, without a working engine, this boat becomes vulnerable to currents and wind, potentially drifting uncontrollably.
You may have heard it said before that prayer is the ‘engine room’ of the church. Not only the church, but the individual believer too. The imagery of the engineless boat gives us a striking and serious picture for those that would neglect to pray.
The importance of prayer
In his book A Call to Prayer, J. C. Ryle emphasises that ‘prayer is the chief means by which a Christian draws near to God, and through it, the church draws near to God’s power.’ Prayer strengthens our faith, deepens our spiritual maturity and is the means by which we draw on his strength and wisdom. It is in prayer that we find rest for our weary souls in a world of sin. Prayer moulds our hearts to God’s sovereign will and is our God given avenue to seeking repentance and newness of life through Christ Jesus who ‘always lives to make intercession for them’ (Heb. 7:25).
It is also important to remind ourselves that prayer is a command. It is that essential.
How should we pray?
As I write this, I am sitting next to my very sweet eight month old baby boy. Every time I look up, his gaze is in my direction. When I smile at him, his eyes light up as if he relies on my constant presence for his peace and security. His arms are constantly reaching for me and his tiny frame relaxes and rests as soon as I embrace him. Is this not how our Heavenly Father wants us to live? To be always abiding in him, resting in him, looking to him?
Perhaps we might feel inadequate at times when it comes to prayer. We may not be orators or particularly eloquent but God’s Word graciously urges us to lay our hearts at the feet of Jesus and no more than that. Praise God! Feelings of inadequacy can sadly hold people back from joining with their church family in praying at their weekly gatherings so this is especially good to remember when it comes to corporate prayer. Scripture urges us to ‘pray without ceasing’, God has designed us to be in constant communion with him. There’s no need to reserve only special places and times for prayer. We can be continually looking to him and resting in him throughout every part of our lives. Can you imagine how different our days might be if we lived in this way? I wonder, what blessings we might be missing out on by ‘going it alone’ so often?
A spiritual discipline
Ryle emphasises that ‘prayer is not an easy task for the flesh. It involves our whole being, and is, therefore, a spiritual discipline.’ The reality is that prayer requires effort and perseverance, particularly in an age where our attention is constantly being pulled one way or the other. Yet, it is through the practice of dedication to prayer that our spiritual muscles will be strengthened and our dependence on God will deepen.
Modern life with its busy schedules, ‘always on’ technology, and the too easy access of non-stop entertainment has convinced us that we quite literally don’t have enough hours in the day to pray.
Instead of trying to fit prayer into your busy schedule, why not restructure your time around prayer instead? This might mean waking up earlier, rearranging commitments, or even declining certain responsibilities to make time for communion with God. Treat prayer as a non-negotiable part of your day.
While technology has improved our lives in so many ways, it has also brought devices into our lives, homes and churches that mean it can be a challenge to really switch off, unless we literally switch off. I realise for some this is easier said than done but if we can take every opportunity to ‘be still’ and have occasions throughout the day of quiet time, we can give ourselves the mental space for meditation and prayer that is so essential for our spiritual wellbeing.
We are told in the Bible that it is good to wait for the Lord. Perhaps we’re not accustomed to waiting for much in this life. Spurgeon exhorts us, ‘Wait! Wait! Let your waiting be on the Lord! He is worth waiting for. He never disappoints the waiting soul.’
Conversely, don’t restrict yourself to only the most ideal conditions to pray. Pray in the middle of life’s chaos. Pray while stuck in traffic, while walking to work and while washing dishes.
It’s a great blessing to pray with others. Find a prayer partner, create family prayer rhythms and join your church prayer meeting. Seek out older Christians who have spent years in prayer and learn from their wisdom.
Scripture tells us that ‘the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ (Matt. 26:41). Without practical steps to put in place, we are sure to slip back into old habits and forget. Interestingly, God has designed our brains so that the more we do something, the easier it is to continue and the more we repeat that action, the harder it is to stop. Developing new habits takes time but God is your helper!
A strong heart
To borrow from the nautical world again, we have an anchor in our Saviour, who keeps our soul steadfast while the storms of life threaten to capsize our faith. We are fastened to the rock which is Christ Jesus – immovable and secure. If we desire to be grounded firm and deep in the Saviour’s love, we must root ourselves in his Word and abide with him in prayer. There is such peace and happiness at the feet of Jesus and abiding in prayer will make your walk with the Lord sweeter than you can imagine.
As a final encouragement, Spurgeon wrote beautifully that ‘prayer pulls the rope below, and the great bell rings above in the ears of God. Some scarcely stir the bell, for they pray so languidly; others give but an occasional pluck at the rope. But he who wins with heaven is the man who grasps the rope boldly and pulls continuously, with all his might.’
