Pray Always

In this week’s edition of our weekly Wednesday newsletter, Scott ponders the power of unceasing prayer.

Dear friends in Christ,

Today’s assigned readings include a passage from James, with these instructions, “Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise” (James 5:13).

In my limited experience talking with people – and reflecting on my own life – too often we tend to pray to God when we want something. The scriptures suggest another approach. We should, instead, pray without ceasing. We should pray to give thanks, to praise God, to seek God’s will, and, yes, to implore God’s action in the world. Sometimes I’m better at this than other times. Does prayer work? Absolutely. I know that when I pray more often, I discover a sense of God’s grace in the world and in my life that I might not otherwise find.

A rich prayer life moves beyond asking God to do things for us and toward a life in which we commit ourselves to God. We pray not for God to fix everything for us, but for God to accompany us in our brokenness and in the broken places of the world.

Forward Movement has all kinds of resources on prayer, but today’s message won’t point you toward something to buy. Instead, I invite you to try a kind of prayer you haven’t used lately. Haven’t spent time telling God thanks? Try it. Or try praising God in prayer. Or asking for God’s direction. There isn’t a right or a wrong way to pray, but I do believe we are blessed when we push ourselves toward a deeper life of prayer.

How will you pray today?

Yours faithfully,