Stubborn 4 Christ!
March 8, 2007
Prayer goes differently when we’re desperate for an answer.
The Canaanite woman wanted healing for her daughter so badly that she stopped at nothing to get what she wanted – Jesus to pray for her.
What have you really been wanting lately? What area are you wanting breakthrough in?
Often we can think of prayer being a place to go to ‘get blessed’, to receive from God, but it is actually as much about us blessing God’s heart. It is about coming in obedience even when we don’t feel like praying.
A monk asked to be allowed out during the time allocated for personal prayer in his room – he claimed to be very distracted. The answer given by his superior was: “Allow your thoughts to wander where they will but don’t leave your room!”
It’s the same for us when it’s a struggle to pray. As an act of faith we’re called to not permit our bodies to leaving the room in which we’ve chosen to pray until a period of time has elapsed. It’s about being present to God and willing to try.
If interceding for something has become painful then know it’s a period you need to pass through to increase your faith before the answer comes. God has given you the grace to endure thus far for a reason! Don’t give up. Perservere like the Canaanite woman!
“As an act of faith we’re called to not permit our bodies to leaving the room in which we’ve chosen to pray until a period of time has elapsed.”
Hi Maria I’m not sure I agree with this. We are called to pray without ceasing – and that means being present to God and in tune with Him wherever we are
There’s a lot to be said for having a prayer closet – and pressing in for more of God there too- but when I read this post I felt the dualism in it too. And that’s not from God IMHO
I love your conclusion in the same paragraph though “It’s about being present to God and willing to try.” – we are to press in, we are to persevere, we aren’t to give up because the going gets tough.
Amen to that sister!
Lorna, YES, we are called to pray without ceasing, but we need that quality time with the Lord when we’re not praying on the run… without it we will die and be knocked down in the spiritual battle.
What i was meaning was that we need to set aside some time each day, and say ‘i will not leave this place cos i don’t feel like praying’ but stay for a while in obedience.
yes, i totally agree with this post- its not just about persevering when you want something; its about being present when your world seems to be falling apart. during three years i spent in a residential Christian community i came to appreciate the practice of morning prayers and opposed some people who wished to make morning prayers an optional part of life in the community.
it can become a dualistic way of seeing the world- and the “prayer is what we do in chapel at six o’clock in the morning” attitude isn’t helpful. but setting aside a specific time for prayer can be a powerful practice, it holds you in times of doubt and it strengthens you in times of challenge.
the monastic practice of morning (matins) and evening (compline) prayer is not a dualistic practice, but rather serves to remind Christians that God is with them throughout the day and watches over them at night. when it comes prayer as a discipline i have found two things helpful:
1. praying with others makes us accountable to them and serves as a good reminder that prayer is not about “us and God”, it is about “us, the world, and God”
2. praying the daily office, is also helpful as it gives our prayer life structure and when we struggling to pray it gives us words.
[...] thoughts on prayer 8 03 2007 Some thoughts on prayer provoked by Maria Toth’s recent post Stubborn 4 Christ! [...]
Thank you my sister. This is always encouraging and prayer will always be tested…
I want to get into Chapel Hill. Gosh, I am praying hard for that.
Great post, Maria. We sometimes overlook the seriousness of prayer. Not that we don’t pray, but that we don’t allow the prayer to take us where we need to go, where God will bless us, not because we seek His blessing but because we seek Him in His fulness. Interceeding for others is often painful. And that pain may be due to our lack of belief that God will answer.
Good post, Maria. All I can say is “Lord, teach us to pray.”
I love how God works! That post is exaxtly what I have been dealing with for the past several months. I know there is a purpose for everything and there is a reason a door has not opened. It is nice to have it staring me in the face:-)
Thank you
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Thank you for this. . .It is just what I needed to hear right now
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