I remember in my younger years sitting with a group of women in a circle having a Bible Study. I was probably the youngest in the group. We were completing our discussion when the leader announced, "Let's all pray. We'll go around the circle." I suddenly panicked! Yikes! I have to pray out loud! I'm 5th in line. What am I going to say? What will these people think of me?
Have you ever had that experience? I'm sure all of us have panicked with the sudden realization that we are required to pray in public. We compare ourselves to those around us thinking they are so much more gifted and probably sound like theologians. I've known many who, when invited to be part of a regular prayer group, decline to attend because they feel inadequate to pray out loud. Why do we feel that way? Are we so amazed, intimidated, fearful, or speechless before Almighty God? The scripture states again and again how much God loves us and wants to have fellowship with us. How can we have fellowship and not have a conversation? In our physical lives we all have friends. How do we have relationships and grow friendships? We talk!
Many of us seniors were brought up in an era when we only heard formal, eccesiastical prayers prayed with perfect tone and formality by a distinguished member of clergy. We were impressed by his sanctimonious words and realized he was properly praying and let no one ever think otherwise. Thus, when it came to me, a female with no seminary education, how could I even think of leading a group in prayer. But, as I learned more about Jesus, that He was loving and personal, I realized my praying could be more relaxed. I found I wanted to open my heart, tell Him all that was in there, good and bad. As a result, I lost that fear of praying and grew in meaningful, powerful 'talk' with Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
You might ask, "Does God really want to talk to me, have a conversation width me, listen to me talk to Him?" Well, think of this. God chose to create us, out of His great love. Jeremiah 31:3, "I have loved you with an everlasting love". God loved us even before He created us. When you love someone that much you want conversation. As a parent I love our children intensely. No matter what they say, do or think, I will still love them. I birthed them, nursed them, supported them, encouraged them, disciplined them, cried with them, laughed with them. They will always be our children. That thought gives me some understanding of how much God loves me. He loves me eternally. And as I yearn to talk with our kids in deep conversations, God wants to talk with me. Prayer is the avenue of conversation with God.
So how do we talk with God? For one thing, be yourself. God knows you, your needs, your pain, your sorrow, your joys, your struggles, your victories.....even before you open your mouth and utter the words. I have found when I pray it's like talking to my best friend. Not to minimize Almighty God, but I feel intimacy with Him. He does know all about me. When I express my happiness to Him I rejoice knowing I shared that with my Jesus. And when I weep as I struggle with a personal situation I find comfort knowing He understands.
This personal prayer relationship is especially vital to widows and widowers, who number many in our senior population. Having had a spouse who shared everything with you, now you are left alone to find answers to family matters, financial questions, physical challenges and living arrangements. Our Lord is a personal, loving God who listens and guides. Talk to Jesus and He will comfort you.
If you are invited to be a part of a community prayer group, rejoice! You will never regret the decision to join. I am part of a community prayer group. Sometimes we all pray, sometimes a few pray. We pour our our hearts to our Lord God sharing our joys and struggles. We weep, we laugh, we sing, we stumble over words, we make grammatical errors, but we pray. As the 30 minutes end, we feel refreshed, revitalized and blessed that we have met in community prayer. A benefit to all of us.
