One of the nagging voices of my conscience is that I have not been sufficiently prayerful and devotional in designating time parameters and reserving thought dimensions for conversations with God. What constitutes an adequate prayer and devotional life? After many decades of varying patterns and emphases in my own conduct I have lighted upon a pattern that has become gratifying for me. At some point I discovered the gratification of a devotional life.
First, the individual must find a devotional pattern if that person is to know God in the way Scripture suggests that devout persons of genuine faith can and should know Him. There ought to be a context that includes prayer, Scripture, settlement (acceptance) and inspiration for the seeking person. If there is no prayer experience there is no devotional life, as Scripture has it. Without prayer one does not fulfill requirements even if that person is pious, meditative, elevated in thought, and giving attention to religion’s occupations and concerns for public life.
Second, Scripture states that persons have the ability to focus thought and devotion on God. The Bible teaches that failure to find a devotional life means some failure in spiritual growth and influence. Lack of prayer suggests that the person has stalled in growth. That one can be a Christian without regular prayer I have no doubt, but Christian life is limited in concept, practice and realization for the person who does not have a directed, biblical, devotional life.
Third, the implication seems to hold that prayer enlarges as one matures in his or her spiritual life. Early in a prayer experience the accent is likely to be on daily needs and concerns, and on those closest to the person at prayer. In later years the accent is on the advancement of the plan of God for individuals and the world in the promise of the Christian gospel. We are rightly taken by the whole earth and large needs in the world. We learn in maturity not to give God a great deal of information. By common grace, needs are generally met for nearly all persons who give labor and order to their lives, secular or devout. There is a natural right to the necessities of life – so that we balance matters for the will of God when we take on the larger prayer responsibility. Jesus noted that we: need not take thought of what ye shall eat or what ye shall put on.
Consequent to this gradual reorientation to prayer issues, I find myself almost entirely taken by prayer for spiritual integrity, the advancement of God’s kingdom on earth, the distractions of mankind, and related issues. I begin prayer for myself which includes worship and thanksgiving – then matters of forgiveness; family and requests; Holy Spirit work and partnership in ministry; human needs both physical and spiritual; and, physical health in personal integrity for life and service. My family is touched in prayer for their welfare and spiritual lives. Friends are focused in similar pattern. I pray for the Church, for her world-wide mission and for related institutions that serve. Most time is given to praying for the things I am instructed in Scripture to pray for – like ministry, leaders and peace. This approach has made me feel closer to my ideals, closer to God’s plan for the creation, closer to the concerns of Jesus for mankind; and, closer to objectivity. The approach provides elevation relating to God’s kingdom and my family’s preparation for citizenship in that kingdom. Such prayers have immortality in them. Closing prayer I ask for the signature of Jesus Christ. Effective prayer avoids too great self-focus. It accents ministry to the whole world, especially the mission of world evangelism commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28. With this fervency for all persons in the grace of God there is love and peace. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020