One Day at a time, a daily reflection

by surprisedbyjoy@yahoo.com

December 8

Help in praying

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1: 3-8

The Bible is full of hundreds of prayers. Christ certainly prayed greatly and his prayers offer a lifetime of insights. Another prayer master, the apostle Paul, wrote today’s prayer. He wrote this prayer from a 1^st century jail while in chains for his Christian faith. Paul could have chosen to wallow in the depths of depression, despair and discouragement. Instead, he offers us valuable prayer insights on how to live greatly in times of suffering and trouble. Be comforted with the knowledge that God is completing a good work in you.

One of the most frequent questions I am asked as a minister is about prayer. People are intensely interested with their spiritual lives but often don’t know how to begin praying. We wonder if God truly hears and answers our prayers. Often we feel we need to get our lives back together before we approach God for help.

I heard this frequently while I served as a chaplain to an inpatient hospital drug and alcohol rehabilitation program. While serving in the drug rehabilitation program, many clients would participate in a Twelve-Step Program. They knew their lives were out of control and that they needed a Higher Power. I taught a basic spirituality program for those groups based on the ACTS acronym: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication. I noticed time and time again, people would have problems with thanksgiving. "Chaplain," they’d say, "I have nothing to be thankful for. My life is ruined. I’ve lost my family, children, health, job and dreams. I can’t pray until I get my life fixed up."

But God is ready the moment we are. Our most honest prayers are when we are broken and contrite. When we are weak, our prayers are strong. Prayer takes us beyond basic survival and brings us into spiritual empowerment, greatness and maturity. There is no such thing as a little prayer.

You see, this kind of prayer changes things. It changes the pray-er. Consider an experiment with God. Begin having conversations with God for five minutes every day for the remainder of this month. During your conversations, list the things and people you are thankful for. You will never be the same again. Prayer with gratitude is empowering.

And even if it seems impossible to do, consider praying for others. Thank God for them. Pray for those you love and those you hate. Pray for your friends, colleagues, neighbors and family members. Corrie Ten Boom was a survivor of a German prison camp. She said, "The greatest thing one person can do for another is to pray for them."

Prayer: God, teach us to pray. Amen.