Prayer is fundamental to the Christian life.
The nature of prayer and how we grow in prayer isn’t something that is always given due diligence. It’s not uncommon for churches to experience something of a lack of interest in prayer especially corporately, which some may suggest reflects something of a lack of interest in prayer at the individual level.
I can confess that prayer only took on a deeper meaning, urgency and importance to me when I knocked about with people who took prayer seriously, not just as a ritual of the Christian life. I witnessed these individuals exercise prayer in all circumstances and trust God to engage in the conversation and it was amazing seeing how that worked out for them in their life and growth in Christ. It was also instructive to me to see how people grew in prayer.
That’s what makes this piece from Frank McEleny called No Longer Seeking God for His Blessings, worthwhile reading. The article gives a brilliant insight into what it is to grow in prayer and the place that petitions/requests play in that relationship. Frank’s blog on A Call to the Remnant is one that offers a prolific volume of material that is designed to get us to address our lives as believers under the spotlight of the truth of Jesus Christ. It’s not a soft Christian site that’s just about whatever is trendy or of least hassle. It’s a blog that stimulates me to consider my faith in Jesus and the consequences of that.
The issue of prayer should be precious to the life of the believer, not as a spiritual convenience store connection that gives us the goodies at hand. The precious nature of prayer really should be about the One with whom we’re engaging in the relationship. I’m grateful to God for Frank and the way he brilliantly expresses this. I trust you will be blessed by the experience too.
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
Life With CD 