“But as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way…” 2 Corinthians 6:4a
I don’t love prayer meetings.
Am I allowed to say that?
I’m married to a pastor. I love my church. I love prayer. But I really struggle with prayer meetings.
I’m not saying this is anyone’s fault. I’ve been to a number of churches and a number of prayer times, and I can honestly admit that this issue I have is ninety percent my own heart. I need to also add that I’m learning to like them, and in fact, to even crave times of prayer with my brothers and sisters in Christ. But it’s taken time, change, and fresh eyes to get here.
In many of the prayer meetings I’ve been a part of, we are all talking and sharing before prayer. There’s laughter, tears, venting, and processing. Then, as our eyes close and our heads bow, the emotional temperature of the room shifts dramatically to somber and serious. Tones of voice become soft and low. Someone who a moment ago used the word “higgledy-piggledy” is now speaking in fancy old English and might even be quoting Shakespeare.
I picture God listening to us. I imagine Him as majestic and meek, Creator and Comforter, deity and Father. He came to us as we are, so that we could come to Him. He was born into dirt and cold and frail humanity; He does not require loftiness for connection.
Why is it we can laugh and cry and be real with the friend sitting next to us, but we come prim and proper to our Father? The feeling of inauthenticity in many group prayers was such a turnoff to me that for a long time I avoided them altogether. However, when we put up a roadblock in our hearts toward our community, it rarely leads to anything other than stagnation and bitterness.
Here are a few things that have helped soften my heart:
- Pray with your eyes open. Years ago in youth ministry, we would stand in a circle facing one another and pray with our eyes open. It was super awkward at first, but it eventually made group prayer feel more like a conversation.
- Pray Scripture. Pray the principles found in the passage you’ve just read. This is as simple as repeating the Scripture word for word as a prayer for your current times.
- The 3-5 word rule. “God, give us wisdom.” Pray as simply and directly as possible.
- Recognize that all people have their own style of praying. Believe the best of others.
I’m confident there are countless prayer meetings around the world that have had unknown impacts on the lives of others. Let’s not let our preferences, perceptions, and preconceived ideas prevent us from taking part in this gift God has given us. Like Matthew says in Chapter 18, verse 20, “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”
God, let us not create prayer in our own image; help us to come humbly before You with other believers. Amen
