PENTECOST VI
July 9, 2023
“O Lord, Hear My Prayer”
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:26-27).
Whether we speak of Confirmation, Catechism, Affirmation of Baptism, or Faith Journey, most Lutheran Christians have an experience of some kind relating to the activities these words describe. Some sound pretty old fashioned, while others are more contemporary, but they all carry relevance and meaning in a lifetime of learning and maturing in faith. My own journey began with Sunday School through eighth grade, followed by two years of Confirmation instruction. Our pastor was good-humored, patient and worked well with young people, encouraging expression and conversation, as we bounced questions and ideas around.
I’ve been thinking about the nature and the action of prayer recently, probably more than I’ve actually prayed. The prayers at worship provide good direction and can be a source of further prayer, and I’ve always appreciated Paul’s message to the Romans, in which we are assured that the Holy Spirit helps us pray and that God knows what’s in our hearts. I decided to see what I could find on the subject in my old confirmation book, which is heading toward antique status, and was pleased to find guidance that has stood the test of time.
The first chapter covering the Lord’s Prayer includes the qualities of prayer in general, including the universal nature of prayer, whether Christian or non-Christian. Facing the challenges and tragedies of life, we turn to one who is stronger than humans for strength and comfort.
Our prayers don’t tell God anything that he doesn’t know, but the act of prayer opens our hearts to God to receive his love and know of his care for us. Prayer can be an opportunity to grow in faith and understanding of our relationship to our Father in heaven.
On the most personal level, we are told that the foundation of prayer is built on honesty and simplicity. Prayers that are pretentious and long-winded don’t carry more importance than the truthful, straightforward cry from the soul of a believer. God searches our hearts, knows our needs, and wants to see us grow closer to him through prayerful communication.
The Apostle Paul called on Christians to “pray always,” which sounds unrealistic, but there’s an undercurrent in our hearts that is turned toward God, and often we seek him with short but heartfelt words of thanks and praise or pleas for strength, understanding, patience or forgiveness.
The lesson closes by describing the fellowship we experience with one another in prayer. We don’t begin to pray by saying, “My Father” — we say together, “Our Father,” and in that simple phrase, we are connected to our sisters and brothers in Christ around the world and across the centuries. What an amazing gift, to all people, in all times and in all places!
Blessed by the gifts of prayer,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers