Put More Prayer in Your Life and More Life in Your Prayer by Pastor Walter Snyder Q: How can I get more out of my prayer life? A: First off, remember that we cannot "get more" by using prayer to manipulate God. Even when asking for earthly or spiritual blessings, true prayer is a heartfelt response to what the Lord already freely gives. Christ cautions us in Matthew 6:7-8, "And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him." We see the "short and sweet" best summed up in the Our Father (vv. 8-13; also Luke 11:2-4). Even in extended prayer, such as Jesus prays in John 17, we don't read empty repetition but a carefully crafted discourse that flows naturally from point to point until all is said that Christ means to say. To begin prayer, start talking. To continue a life of prayer, don't stop. There's never a bad time to say, "Our Father." It's also a great model: We can use its petitions to remind ourselves to lift up our own requests in various areas. This brief prayer praises God, asks for spiritual blessing, and asks for earthly blessing. Without getting into the details of each petition, stop to notice the balance that the Our Father has: In English translation, only a handful of words are used to sum up all we need in our earthly lives. Homes, finances, food, relationships, health, and all else are included in, "Give us this day our daily bread." Yet what proportion of spiritual to earthly requests do we often use in our prayers? While never wrong to pray for food, shelter, good government, health, and such, most of us could spend more of our prayer time praising and giving thanks, asking forgiveness, seeking spiritual guidance and discernment, and the like. Sometimes knowing this prayer keeps us from truly praying it. Often, we probably say the words without really thinking what they mean since it's easier to go by memory rather than concentrate on what we need from God that this prayer asks. Because of this, we supplement this prayer given by our Lord with others which are either crafted ahead of time (formal or liturgical prayer) or which flow from us as we speak with God (~ex corde~ or "from the heart" prayer). I often recommend the A.C.T.S. method: These letters remind us to spend prayer time in Adoration (praising God because he is God and for all he has done), Confession (admitting our guilt before him, asking forgiveness, trusting in that forgiveness; and acknowledging that we believe what He says of Himself in Scripture), Thanksgiving, and Supplication (asking him to meet our needs, both spiritual and earthly). We can do this in corporate, or group, prayer in church or elsewhere when we gather with believers. We can also do it on our own, whenever and wherever we find ourselves. Bible study and devotion are also excellent prayer times. As we read the Bible, we can stop and talk to God about what the Scriptures are saying. Ask Him to apply the Word to your life. Wrestle with Him over hard to understand passages. Thank Him as the words become clearer and as He reveals blessings already given. Sometimes I'll read several verses, even chapters, then sum things up with one prayer. At other times, each verse is a new challenge, thus a new opportunity to pray. Martin Luther recommended this method as part of his advice when his barber asked him for help with praying. Before and after meals and any time with Christian family and friends can also include a time of intentional conversation with the Lord. Luther also composed brief devotions at the beginning and ending of the day. When getting up or going to bed, he recommends that the Christian "make the sign of the holy cross and say: 'In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.' Then, kneeling or standing, repeat the [Apostles'] Creed and the Lord's Prayer. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer." He then suggests short prayers written for morning or evening. He closes the evening prayer saying, "Then go to sleep at once and in good cheer." The morning prayer ends with a suggestion: "Then go joyfully to your work, singing a hymn, like that of the Ten Commandments, or whatever your devotion may suggest." In this, Luther echoes St. Augustine, who said, "A hymn is a prayer twice prayed." That's my final suggestion: When you can't think of the words as you sit, stand, or kneel to talk to God, find a hymn that says what you want to say, and recite or sing it to your Lord. God be with you, teaching you evermore to talk with Him in prayer as you listen to Him in his Word. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from ~The Holy Bible, English Standard Version~, © 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Ask the Pastor, © 2003 by Walter P. Snyder. It may be reproduced in totality, including this disclaimer, by anyone, provided that no profit is generated by said republication and redistribution. Translations into other languages should similarly note the United States and any appropriate international copyrights, as well as God's Scriptural injunctions concerning the property of others. Walter Snyder is the pastor of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Emma, Missouri and coauthor of the book "What Do Lutherans Believe."