As a child, I fell into praying by just repeating what I saw people doing around me. Before we ate a meal, someone would listen to “the man of the house” as he would “say grace” for us. When we were in church, at the expected pauses or transitions on the church bulletin, we would bow our heads and listen to “the man behind the podium” as he would “pray” for us. When we went to bed, we might recite a known poem about God watching over us while we “lay me down to sleep”.
As I grew up, I found myself at crossroads in my life where instead of just tradition or ritual — I found myself in a position where I realized my own need and the needs of others that were beyond my ability — and that need that kind of “God if you really exist, and if you really care, we really need your help on this” kind of attention and touch daily.
What is really wonderful is that I didn’t need Him any less when I was a little child listening and reciting. And even when I get distracted as an adult and I’ve gotten too busy to care enough about being serious about prayer time — His door is still open every time that I open my eyes to realize the need and the value of time spent together with Him.
Sometimes I need a reminder that prayer isn’t about a ritual or tradition, and that it isn’t about an obligatory “did I say my prayers”. Sometimes I need a reminder about the things Jesus had to teach us about prayer. I need a reminder that prayer isn’t a perfect recitation but a pattern of recognizing some key things about ourselves and our need for regular communication with God — in order to stay healthy and avoid foolishness.
Matthew 6:9-13 NLT
[9] Pray like this: Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. [10] May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. [11] Give us today the food we need, [12] and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. [13] And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one.
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.6.9.NLT
Lord God Almighty, you are creator of the Heavens and the Earth, your ways are far too high for me to fully comprehend — yet you have made a way for the unholy and the imperfect like me to seek you — and to even abide in you and walk with you. This is amazing the way that your Kingdom invades and overtakes the darkness through the example you have given us in Christ Jesus and by the ambassadors we are each called to be a your representatives walking through this land on our way back home to you. We want ourselves, and our brothers and sisters who are blind to various foolishness that falls short of what is best — to be healed and freed from traps that we’ve sometimes become too comfortable and familiar with in our lives. Teach us and lead us in what is best, disciplining us gently when necessary to keep us on the narrow path, so that your will can be seen clearly as the best path. Be our strength and our provider so that we can be a blessing to those around us and will give freely as you give to us. You are the example of ultimate forgiveness and love, so we are inspired and convicted to forgive and love even those our foolish pride might fight initial consider excluding — yet remind us that we have no forgiveness available to us if we do not see the depths of our own need or refuse to forgive others. Your Love overcomes and your Word guides us in Truth that will deliver us from foolishness into wisdom and that will reveal your victory in and through the testimony of our lives — proving that the time of foolishness, of wickedness, of oppression, of injustice, of atrocities, of wars, and of all evil is coming to an end. Amen.
Harold J. Ballinger 