I get prayer requests from around the globe. I have certainly sent prayer requests around the globe for our pressing needs. Of the ones I receive, some have more than 50 requests on a spreadsheet on a regular basis. As I sit in a hospital room with our son, praying for his recovery there is a Free Methodist superintendent in India who has fled persecution into the mountains with his family. There are brothers and sisters that are experiencing the effects of war or political upheaval in the Congo and Kenya. Some of the folks I know from Zimbabwe are in the midst of one of the most grave economic collapses in modern history. A pastor friend of mine in the U.S. is facing troubling problems in his family and ridiculously unfair opposition to his leadership. I am aware of some serious issues in other churches in the U.S. that are extraordinarily difficult. Additionally, I know a great number of people who have asked me for specific prayer. These are folks with whom I have a vibrant relationship. Beyond all of that, we live in a society that is increasingly and actively opposed to Christianity. I don’t know how to get all of the prayer in by just "shooting from the hip" or "squeezing in a prayer arrow or two." There isn’t a quiver big enough to shoot "arrow prayers" up from time to time.
There is just too much going on to carry on life without a serious commitment to prayer. Most people know that. Fewer really do something about it. I probably know more people who express a desire to pray more than I know who actually pray more. I know more people who have a sound theology of prayer than a vibrant prayer life. I hear more calls to prayer than I hear prayer. In fact, there have been times when I have said more about prayer than I have prayed. However, that is now a thing of the past. I pray. And the more I do it, the more compelled I am to pray more. But, I have not gotten there by thinking about it or talking about it. I have carved out and am still carving out a life that is conducive to prayer.
The answer for all of us is to develop a regimen of prayer to go along with our commitment and passion. Passion alone does not get us to pray. Commitment alone does not get us down the road very far either. I have found that disciplining myself to carve out time and find places; developing healthy routines; cultivating relationship with those who partner in prayer with me are all ways of getting to the most important work we do as Christians.
As important as all people regard prayer (in a recent poll, 91% of people surveyed said that they pray occasionally, at least once per month, though only 56% of those surveyed considered themselves Christian) it is rare to find people who have developed a regimen (a systematic plan) for prayer. We just cannot haphazardly get the job done depending upon the right time and place and plan falling into place accidentally. There is so much praising God, seeking his will and direction, interceding for others, carrying our burdens before God than casual prayer will accomplish. I remember the prayer of one of the most "prayer committed and prayer answered" saints I know. She had a list of miraculous answers to prayer that made a stellar resume of her famed commitment to prayer. She prayed one day with me, "Lord, there is too much that seriously needs our attention to bring to your attention than we can muster by our own recall. Give us the ability to know, remember, feel and call beyond our ability." I believe she was saying that we can’t get the job done in a flippant way.
Our vision statement in the Free Methodist Church is to be a "healthy biblical community of holy people multiplying disciples, leaders, groups and churches." I cannot think of a better way to get there than to be a people with a reputation of praying ceaselessly and with great meaning. Some questions are culturally acceptable in the church and others seem to be less acceptable. Among the acceptable ones are: "When and how did you come to Christ?" "What is your favorite passage of Scripture?" "Are you in a small group?" "Who is your accountability partner?" One that I have not heard that much, "How do you pray?" "How do you structure an intentional time to be with God?" "What are you bringing before the Lord most these days?" I don’t know if it is a matter of acceptability or just lack of use. I long to have those kinds of questions to be more commonplace.
What is your prayer regimen?