During recent generations, prayer has generally been identified as one sided conversation with God, with the assumption that God hears or registers prayer and acts in some way to the yearnings of the prayerful person. Concepts related to prayer in both Old and New Testaments make prayer a matter of intercession, supplication, entreaty, call for evaluation (judgment of right or wrong), requesting, conferring, perhaps for personal relief. It may be done silently so that one may muse in prayer, or it may be related to meditation or an attitude of worship. It may be audible, with presumed effectiveness for any mode. It is characterized by a context of personal faith, concern, energy, and language. Prayer lifts man’s personal thought life, as well as addressing God. Attitude is taken as important so that there is a context characterized as reverent and earnest. There may also be jubilation, even music-prayer, so that the word may be used as an appropriate hymn as in spirituals, even national anthems. This kind of prayer is variable so may be worshipful, emotional and contrite in current usage but, as the imprecatory Psalms illustrate, may be harsh from a troubled mind, or sentimental from a personal interest. Even with extensive guidance from experience, the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. As much as prayer is used, both deliberately and as reaction, we feel we may have missed something in the application of prayer. Although prayer is made important in Scripture most persons follow through their days with prayer only now and then, except for troubled moments, or as habit – as in table grace.
The number of books on prayer themes are too numerous to count. One appears about every month or so – with centuries of literature on the subject. During several years I wrote a manuscript (unpublished) about prayer which addresses more than thirty variant types of prayer. The manuscript might occupy a volume of about 250-300 pages, but it touches only some of the issues. That writing inspired me to pray more, so worth the personal effort. Almost daily a former student calls me from 2,000 miles away to pray by phone. The periods usually last for about ten minutes on the average, and have slightly increased in length. In writing this Page, I was interrupted by a person calling my office. I was informed he had just come from an hour of prayer which strengthened him. It may be that there is far more prayer occurring than we know or feel. The decline in prayer in the Church calendar, and conflicts about public prayer by sectarians and humanists helps to push prayer into shadows perhaps even to reduce church programs.
Prayer is a related factor for life extension. Growing old, I pray more than formerly. I pray God to improve the uses and quality of Christian programs to accomplish his purposes – the mission of the redemptive gospel in the world. Other ministries include Christian education, charities, and other ministries, with honor going to Christ so to suggest attention to the gospel and fulfill the command of Christ to serve all persons, Christian or non-Christian. I pray for my own Christian maturation, and the welfare of my family, colleagues and friends. I accent the great movements for all peoples so to address human needs, especially related to leadership, peace, and the care of the poor and suffering. Prayer, for me, is directed toward the concept of the Kingdom of God. God partners with us providing both human and divine outcomes. Prayer teaches us something about ourselves, the world and God especially as relating to devotion, service, human welfare, values (righteousness), and wisdom. Tension related to sin and wrong thinking becomes a part of prayer to wisdom for life. There is a mystery in prayer that makes one feel safe and fulfilled when it is genuinely engaged. There is a latent (quiet) freedom and release in it. *Mark W. Lee, Sr. — 2016, 2020