A Pray-er's Prayer

My history as a pray-er (a person that prays) has been rather odd. I have spent time praying in overwhelming heat, in bitter cold, on my knees, off my feet, center pew, in the shower, outside, inside, on a mountain, in the desert, with a hat on and without. Prayer is union with our God...a communique.

In so many cultures, communities, homes...even churches, "prayers" are said...not prayed. Understand that I am by no means an authority on prayer, its true importance, or its power. I am simply a man who has experienced powerful movement of the Holy Spirit through union with God. Prayer is powerful.

There is a fundamental difference between "saying our prayers" and truly creating space for the Spirit of God to move. Understand that I am not insinuating separation from God. Rather, being so in tune with His Spirit that we abandon ourselves to Him.

Miracles are not the barometer for "successful" prayers. I feel that we often pigeon-hole our prayer lives into asking and waiting...asking and waiting...leaving very little room for contemplative silence. Silence and solitude. These things are imperative (not simply "important"). Our time with the Lord cannot be spent solely in song and deed.

A story: A great friend of mine once stopped to fill his car with gas and met a kind man that seemed down on his luck. Typical of my friend's kind spirit, he graciously engaged the man in conversation and spoke with him about his life and his struggles. After a few minutes, the familiar "click" of the fuel pump indicated that time had come for the men to part ways. But, before he got into his car, my friend assured the man that he would be prayed for. At that point, the disheveled man kindly reached for both of my friends wrists and said, "Ok then...please go ahead." So my friend prayed for the man in a Shell parking lot.
Though it might sound overly enthusiastic, my reaction to that story is amazement. Isn't this the nature of Jesus? For a moment, my friend was the very face Christ to that man. I don't know about you...but in my experience with telling people that I will pray for them, they typically respond with a simple, "Thank you" and continue on their way.

My hope is that we will pray earnestly and honestly. Oh, and actually listen for a change.

--Brimas