Discipling in prayer

Whenever I hear someone try and teach another how to pray I always hear things like “It’s just a conversation… don’t be wordy… keep it simple… just act like your talking to a friend… don’t use big words,” but is that how God wants us to communicate with him? I understand that this is a good place to start but do we ever go beyond this in teaching people how to talk and communicate with God? I don’t know about you but I like to engage in intellectual and deep thought with my friends and I would say that God wants us to do the same with Him. I think that this is why if you asked the average person in your church to pray in a group of people they would be hesitant to do so. Telling someone to keep it simple or to act like they are talking with a friend or just having a conversation gives them no instruction in how to talk to God. This is not how Jesus taught His disciples how to pray when they asked Him.

I think God wants more than just a simple conversation for several reasons. The first is that God is more than a friend He is our Father and as a parent wants more than just simple conversation with their children so does God. Second is that as you grow in a relationship you open up more to each other revealing more of yourself and going into deep discussions about life. The same is true with God. As you grow closer to Him you open up and your discussions are no longer simple and easy. Third is that as you become more like Christ you will begin to communicate like He did with the Father. I would venture to say that Jesus did not have simple conversations with the Father and it is evident when you look at Jesus’ interactions with the Father. Before Jesus went to the cross He was praying to the Father so intently that His sweat become blood (Luke 22:39-46). That is not a simple conversation with small words, acting like you are talking to a friend, and not being wordy. That is intense communication!

One of my favorite church fathers Augustine said “He who sings prays twice.” The idea that he is trying to get across is that words are one type of prayer and when combined with harmony/music and you have created another aspect to prayer. What Augustine is getting at is being creative and elaborate in your communication with God. While it can be simple communication it can be so much more if you want it to be and I would say that God does want it to be more. We need to be communicating to our churches that prayer begins simple but as we grow closer to God the way we talk and communicate with becomes more intense and intimate.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us for not teaching your children how to have intimate fellowship with you.