What I have learned about prayer in 22 years of pastoral ministry.
I am preaching on prayer this Sunday and have come up with some thoughts that I would like you to reflect on and write back to me. Here are my initial thoughts on a sermon titled - “What I have learned about prayer in 22 years of pastoral ministry.”
A) Prayer Myths
1) If only you have enough faith then your prayers will be answered.
2) God is your concierge in the sky.
3) We need to tell God what to do.
B) Prayer Blessings
1) When we lose ourselves in prayer, we end up finding ourselves
2) Prayer assists us in realising how much God cares about us.
3) We can find our “path” through life by engaging in prayer.
C) Contradictory Prayer Truths
1) God sometimes is very distant in prayer - even when the prayer is done by a saint.
2) When you engage in a secret daily diet of prayer - people will come to see you as spiritual.
3) God almost always listens to, and grants the requests of those who are “pure in heart.”
I know that the outline of above does not represent smooth theory or practice of prayer - however, it does represent the reality of what I have witnessed as a pastor. What do you think?
By the way, I love Point Mugu, it is my favorite place to pray.
Peace,
Doctor “J”