Pray
“… in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God...”
Philippians 4:6
Deep breath. Take one here. A new year — yes, a whole new year. Now 2023 is only days away. Wasn’t New Year’s only days ago? Can you believe it? Here we are again.
I suspect you have some New Year’s Resolutions. If it is not already on your list, may I invite you to consider one more? “In 2023 … I resolve to pray more.” Yep, that is it. Pretty simple, I guess. You may say, “Well of course Dr. Levenson … you are going to say pray more, that is what someone who does what you do is supposed to say!” Well, yes; but believe it or not, it is one of my resolutions.
Also, within a week, I will turn 61 (Gulp. Didn’t I turn 16 just days ago?) I am finding with each passing year, my need to pray grows more; my hunger and desire to spend time in this divine moment of connection grows.
It seems all great things and moments in our Judeo-Christian story had a common meeting point — prayer. Praying, at times, it seems, is one of those things we do “after” everything else is done, but if we look to the Scriptures and our forebears of faith, we know prayer was not only a priority, but it was also essential.
After His baptism, Jesus went into the desert to pray (see Luke 4); the discipline of prayer was not something He implored of His followers, for His teaching on prayer began with the words, “And when you pray …,” not if, but when! (Matthew 5:5). Jesus, we are told, often went out alone to a garden, a mountainside or a place of solitude to pray. (See Mark 1:35; Matthew 14:23; Luke 22:41; and John 17:1).
Martin Luther declared, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” John Wesley devoted two hours daily to prayer. Every great and wonderful Christian leader I have known also knew of the importance and power of prayer. William Carey wrote, “Prayer — secret, fervent, believing prayer — lies at the root of all personal godliness.” So, if Jesus, Luther, Wesley, Carey — and Bagby, Payne and Gipson believed in the power of prayer, it seems a worthy discipline indeed.
But I confess, I sometimes forget ‘when’ to pray. I do not mean morning when I wake, or night before I sleep, or Church when I am leading worship (but also praying – because I am, by the way). I sometimes forget that prayer can be done anywhere, at any time, for any reason. And we all have places, moments and needs like that. Do we not?
Prayer keeps us connected not only to our Lord, but also reminds us of the need we all have to rely on Him for comfort, counsel and direction. That wonderful collect from the 19th Sunday After Pentecost puts it well, “O God, because without you we are not able to please you, mercifully grant that your Holy Spirit may in all things direct and rule our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
As 2023 begins, a full, new year rests before us, and there will be many opportunities to stop the noises and distractions of this world and step into another world — His World.
What weighty situations are facing you in 2023? What hopes do you have for your family, your business, your city, state, nation — for your Church? Why not pray about them? You can do it on your drive to work or on your evening walk. You can do it kneeling by your bed, or while the dental technician is cleaning your teeth. You can pray as you wait in the grocery line or for the server to bring your lunch after you have ordered.
And, if you need a reminder — here is at least one — every time you reach for your phone to text or email or call someone, take a deep breath, put it down for just a moment, and think, “Maybe, I’ll pray first.” Here is one more. Every time you lift your wrist to see the time on your watch or fitness band, let it nudge you to also think, “Oh yeah... it’s also time to pray.”
Your prayers do not have to be wordy, or flowery; they do not have to impress, in fact, your prayers may not include words at all, perhaps just thoughts, or moments of silence. Knowing that what you offer is done in response to Jesus’ reminder, “When you pray …”
And when you make this conscious, you are actually inviting the Creator of the Universe and His Holy presence into whatever moment of need or praise, confusion or thanksgiving, despair or hope with which you travel.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7). That, and that alone, is worth the price of prayer.
I Pray I see you around much in 2023, and in the meantime, pray for me, will you? And let the above be a tangible reminder that your rector is praying for you!
