It’s so easy for us to just go through the motions.
Have you ever noticed people sitting together in a restaurant but have their faces are in their phones? They have real-life human beings in front of them but are essentially ignoring them while having quality time with their device. These are people we probably even like and we still have challenging nurturing our relationship.
DepositPhoto Image ID: 178459526 Copyright: puhhha
Focus
If we can essentially ignore people we care about and can see, think about our relationship with a God that can not be seen. I need to consistently bring my thoughts back in line so I can focus on an interactive conversation with people that I dearly love. You can imagine how much harder this is when we are talking about something important like prayer—typically a one-way conversation with God.
Balance
Apart from focus, balance in prayer can be very helpful. There are types or aspects of prayer that can be helpful (watch for more in a future post). Having a balanced view of God can also be extremely helpful. Sometimes, I fear we can forget the WHO of prayer. We know we are praying to God, but if we are not careful, we can have an inaccurate or incomplete view of God.
I find it helpful to occasionally remind myself of God’s character or attributes. In Time with God, I divided the prayer sections into four categories so that in a month, I can intentionally dwell on the majesty, gentleness, righteousness, and love of God respectively.
Even for those of us who know and remember God’s attributes, we can fall into the trap of thinking that God chooses to access each part of his nature as needed just like we may “change hats” for our various roles. I may put on my compassion hat when my child falls and needs help. I may put on my discipline hat when it’s time to bring correction. BUT, with God, all of his attributes live in perfect harmony with contradiction.
Simplicity
This is critical! While I am encouraging us to keep in mind some very important dynamics, the most important to remember is that God loves us and invites us into a relationship with him.
One of my favorite Bible verses is 2 Corinthians 11:3
But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. (NASB)
To keep all of these in balance without getting lost in the tools and forgetting why we are praying in the first place, consider balancing these three suggestions to help direct your focus.
Focus on the Majesty of God
We can come to God as beloved children. Sometimes, I need to remind myself that even though he invites us to call him Father, he is also still Almighty God. We are planning to spend some time with the God of the universe, so it can be helpful to be still for a few minutes (or at least a few seconds) to prepare our hearts and minds. Briefly meditating on Deuteronomy 4:39 has often helped me reorient my focus.
Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. (Deuteronomy 4:39 NIV)
He’s the same God who told Moses, “Take your sandals off of your feet, for the place you are standing on is holy ground.” (Genesis 3:5 WEB)
Focus on the Love of God
God longs for us to spend quality time with him, more than we could possibly imagine. The Apostle John helps us put God’s love into perspective.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:16 WEB)
“Consider the kind of extravagant love the Father has lavished on us—He calls us children of God! It’s true; we are His beloved children.” (1 John 3:1 VOICE)
God invites us to come to him with all of our joys, sorrows, and struggles. He even urges us to “come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 NKJV).
Focus on Your Relationship with God
Let’s also remind ourselves that we are not here to check off an activity on our to-do list. We are here to spend time with God. Not time to learn about God. Time WITH God. He is here with you right now.
Jesus says, “I am standing at the door and knocking. If any of you hear my voice and open the door, then I will come in to visit with you and to share a meal at your table, and you will be with me.” (Revelation 3:20 VOICE)
I have been marveling at how many kings and leaders in the Old Testament started out well for God only to drift from God into idolatry or sin by the end of their lives. All throughout time, we see the fickleness of humanity in hot, cold, and lukewarm responses to God’s love. Through the prophet Isaiah, God said,
“These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13 NIV)
Jesus quoted that same passage when the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked him why his disciples didn’t keep their traditions (Mark 7:5-7). Elsewhere in the New Testament, Jude urges his readers to “keep yourself in God’s love” (Jude 1:21 WEB). The Apostle John records Jesus’ strong rebuke to the church at Ephesus that even though they were very active, “you have left your first love” (Revelation 2:4 WEB). The NLT translates it as “You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!”
There is a classic skit that vividly demonstrates how easy it is to forget that God is actually present when we are praying–TO HIM!
Pray-er: “Our Father which art in heaven.”
God: Yes?
Pray-er: Don’t interrupt me. I’m praying.
God: But you called me.
Pray-er: Called you? I didn’t call you. I’’m praying. “Our Father which art in heaven.””
God: There, you did it again.
Pray-er: Did what?
God: Called me. You said, “Our Father which art in heaven.” Here I am. What’s on your mind?
Pray-er: But I didn’t mean anything by it. I was, you know, just saying my prayers for the day. I always say the Lord’s Prayer. It makes me feel good…
God: All right. Go on…
(Excerpted from If God Should Speak by Clyde Herring quoted in LeFever, Marlene D. Creative Teaching Methods. Colorado Springs, Col.: Cook Ministry Resources, 1996. 73. Print)
Note: This post was excerpted and adapted from Time with God: Develop Confidence & Consistency In Your Personal Prayer Life by Kevin T. Cunningham. You can learn more about the book at https://www.timewithgodbook.com/ where you can sign up to receive the daily prayer pages delivered to your inbox.
