For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 Prayer is receiving mercy and grace to help us in our time of … [Read more...] about Receiving Grace as Prayer

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 This text reveals some remarkable truths about God. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. And God is the "Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." These images are powerful, beautiful, surprising, … [Read more...] about Receiving as Prayer

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. Mark 2:3-4 Sometimes prayer is letting ourselves be carried by others. Sometimes we cannot pray. We may try to talk with God, or to listen … [Read more...] about Letting Ourselves Be Carried as Prayer

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 Prayer begins, not with our call to God, but with God's call to us. "Come to me," Jesus calls. "Come." All our praying is in some way a response to God's initiative. But we may … [Read more...] about Releasing our Burdens as Prayer

In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength. Isaiah 30:15 This text from Isaiah is about a time when the Israelites were being pursued by enemies but were refusing God's help. The text tells us that God was full of compassion and ready to help, but they would have none of it. This is not that different from how we sometimes live our lives. We face … [Read more...] about Being Quiet as Prayer

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10 Many of us are in motion much of the time. We are in motion at our jobs, in motion with our many activities, in motion seeking entertainment and diversion. Even when we are not in motion physically, we are likely to be in motion mentally. Our minds spin with lists of things to do, with conversations we intend to have, with anxieties that won't go … [Read more...] about Being Still as Prayer

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Matthew 14: 22-23 Sometimes prayer is a kind of solitude. It is allowing ourselves to be alone with God. According to the Gospels, Jesus went out of his way to find solitude. Sometimes he … [Read more...] about Experiencing Solitude as Prayer