Synchro-Prayer

Today is a day of synchro-blogging, where numerous bloggers are invited to all blog on a specific topic. Cindy of Run With It invited me to be one of those writing some thoughts on prayer. For me, prayer as "conversation with God" has always been the most easy definition. Since my early days as a Christian, I've almost always heard prayer referred to as a two-way street.

The funny thing is, those who first taught me this idea were staunch -- even rabid -- cessationists. I'm sure the farthest thing from their minds was to push me towards a more charismatic expression of the faith, but the only logical outcome of believing that prayer was a two-way street meant that God must still speak today.

I don't have many books on prayer; I think Rees Howell, Intercessor and Possessing the Gates of the Enemy are the only two that are specifically on prayer (why I still have my copy of Gates, I don't know), although The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, and St. Bernard of Clairvaux's On Loving God probably come close.

I've always been skeptical of anything that comes in five sure-fire steps or six proven principles, and even the Vineyard's Five Step Model -- which I'd like to see a return to -- can even feel a bit clunky and formulaic at times (depending on how it's used).

For me, prayer is just talking with God. Sometimes I lie in bed, morning or evening, and I'm talking with God. Or driving in my car. Walking in nature. Spontaneously with friends in parks, malls, pubs, and on our deck. With my kids as I tuck them in at night (yes, even as teenagers).

Sometimes I'm especially moved to pray while worshiping; whether in a group setting, by myself, or crankin' some Delirious? in my car, as I drive back and forth to our YWAM base. Worship and prayer are often inter-changable for me.

My kids don't approach me formally on bended knee, and if they did, I'd wonder where I miscommunicated to them that they couldn't just approach me with freedom. I fully recognize God's infiniteness and majesty, and I don't take that lightly, but He himself told us to come before Him boldly (Hebrews 3:14-16), so as best as I understand what that may look like, I do.

My ultimate goal is that prayer would be as natural and instinctive as breathing. I'm not quite there yet! And if I could pick a daily theme for prayer, I think it would have to be "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done" (Matthew 6:9-15). That about sums it up, methinks.