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February HeartBeat

By JEROD McPherson

is simply communicating with God. But however basic that might be, there are still times I need a little help to find language or direction for my praying. Some of the best advice I have ever received about how to pray was this:“ keep it simple, keep it real, and keep it up.”

Keeping it simple means I don’ t have to be overly concerned with word choice. It’ s not important that I say just the right phrases in just the right combination in order for my prayers to be effective. Speaking to God shouldn’ t employ a different vocabulary than my day to day speech. Keeping it real means I am myself when I’ m talking with Jesus. I share what I feel: good, bad, or otherwise in prayer. Prayer isn’ t a place where I present my best face, or a fake version of who I really am. When talking with my Creator who made me, and my Father who knows everything about me, what’ s the point of trying to fake Him out? Keeping it up means I come back to prayer, over and over again, building a habit of connecting with Jesus through daily communication.

You have no doubt heard many different acronyms to use as a guide in personal prayer. Patterns help us remember where we are and what comes next in prayer. They should never be seen as unalterable strict rules for how to pray and how not to pray, rather as a trellis for our prayer life to be supported by as we grow in learning

to speak to God. Here is a helpful, simple acronym presented by Pete Greig in How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People. It follows the word PRAY, each letter signifying a stage or moment to build into your normal prayer routine.

P- Pause Psalm 46:10 gives us an important starting place for all of our prayers:

“ Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world”( Psalm 46:10, NLT).

It seems almost counter intuitive. To get going, we need to slow down. Prayer doesn’ t begin with my list of needs. Rather, it begins by my pausing to recognize the presence and the power of God. Our emotions and senses are often running at such a fast pace, beginning your prayer by being still and waiting for a moment in the presence of God, helps slow you down, focusing your attention on God. Blaise Pascal said,“ All of humanity’ s problems stem from man’ s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”“ All” might be a bit of an overstatement, but I am confident, many of my own problems arise from my inability to slow down, allow God to intervene and guide me. Pausing, taking a few breaths, and realizing you are in the presence of a living, merciful God is a great way to begin your prayers in the correct frame of mind.

R- Rejoice“ Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again— rejoice”( Philippians 4:4, NLT)!

No one notices the beauty of the Grand Canyon, or experiences the power of Niagra Falls and says to themselves,“ Man, I’ m the greatest!” When we encounter beauty and majesty, we are humbled, seeing our own weakness. Moving from pausing, next spend a few moments giving praise to God in the form of adoration and thanksgiving. We focus on how great God is, all His goodness, and His great love for us. Adoring God or worshipping Him is the most natural response to being in His presence. It’ s in this place of reverence where we can tell God just how great He is! Think about all the good things God does for you and the world. Give thanks for all His blessings. Before you ask for anything, spend some time seeing God as He rightly is, and thanking Him for all He does.

A- Ask“ And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for”( 1 John 5:14-15, NLT).

Next, it’ s time to share with God what you and others around you need. This is the opportunity to ask for the smallest and the greatest of needs, all of which are important to God( Matthew 6:7- 8). What do you have need of in