I struggled to pray...but something changed. In 2009 I learned to pray with my Bible open. I grew up in the church. I thought I knew how to pray. But the truth is, what I knew well was how to ask God for things. My theology of prayer was more like a theology of asking. I neglected prayer as a means for thanksgiving, praise, communion, and [above all] worship.
My theology of prayer was more like a theology of asking.
So what changed? I started to pray with my Bible open. Through a class at Liberty University taught by Daniel Henderson, I learned to let my prayers be "Scripture fed and Spirit lead," as he would say. With my Bible open, God's word gave my prayer time a new life.
Try this the next time you go to pray. Flip to the book of Psalms. Read a chapter of Psalms. Ask yourself a few questions. What praiseworthy characteristics of God do I see in this passage? What things in the Psalm draw your heart to thanksgiving? Take five minutes and use that Psalm to guide your prayer of thanks and praise to God who is worthy of our worship.
Henderson would say frequently in our class, "The most enduring motive for prayer is that God is worthy to be sought." Let the worthiness of God put wind in your prayer sails.
Want to learn more? Be sure to subscribe to my blog for regular posts to encourage your pursuit of God through more biblical, joyful, and consistent times of prayer.
And stay tuned for updates on my book, How to Pray: A Quick Guide to More Biblical, Joyful, and Consistent Prayer. Chapter 1 is titled "Pray with an Open Bible." I can't wait to join you on this journey out of frustration and inconsistencies in our prayers.
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