Let us ALL pray

I think that most Christians struggle to pray – I certainly do! Perhaps we have trouble forming the words we want to use, perhaps we battle against irrelevant thoughts which seem to edge their way into our minds, or perhaps we simply find ourselves nodding off! No, prayer isn’t easy – yet all of us, I hope, would say that it is basic for both our personal spirituality and the corporate life of our church. As a hymn-writer once put it, prayer is “the Christian’s vital breath”.

Of course there are many ways of praying – indeed, they complement each other. Some Christians, especially from the Anglican and Catholic traditions, are most comfortable using set (and possibly ancient) liturgies. Pentecostals may use the “charisma” of tongues – which I myself have sometimes found useful when I’m stumped for words. And our Quaker friends may prefer quiet reflection, sitting thoughtfully together in contemplative silence.

My own Nonconformist tradition cherishes the practice of “extempore” prayer – in other words, “off the cuff” prayer expressed in our own words. This approach can be wonderfully authentic, but it is not without pitfalls. For it’s all too easy for a minister to use the same “pet phrases” week after week in worship, much to their congregation’s amusement or despair! And someone speaking in a prayer meeting may feel that they must “pad out” their intercessions with meaningless words such as “just” and “really”, or simply gabble on in a way which has everyone sneaking a glance at their watches.

Here at Christchurch we hold a weekly Prayer Meeting on Friday mornings, but it is very poorly attended. We also make space for prayer in our Deacons’ and Church Meetings, but people are hesitant to speak – I’m not sure why this should be so, seeing that most of us have no difficulty in chatting with our friends! Of course I understand that some people are nervous about opening their mouths in public, and that others may have difficulties in hearing; I also recognise that there is value in collective silence and reflection. Nevertheless “waiting together on God” ought to be a fundamental part of our church’s life, and it isn’t.

So how might we move forward? I think the most important thing to say is that our prayers don’t need to be fluent or incorporate “fancy” language: what God is looking for are simplicity and honesty. Nor do they have to be long: single-sentence prayers will be fine! Another thing to remember is that, when we pray in church, we’re among friends: neither they nor God will mind in the slightest if we stumble or stutter, in fact they’ll be delighted that we have dared to speak. One practical suggestion is for people to work out a prayer and write it down before attending their meeting, reading it out at the appropriate moment.

As a young Christian, I found it difficult to pray in public. Even among peers in a student Bible study group, I was reluctant to speak to God – although I was perfectly happy to take part in our discussions. I suppose I was afraid of “drying up” or saying the wrong thing. But eventually I plucked up the courage to pray aloud – and everyone congratulated me on my few hesitant words.

May I challenge you all to take that difficult first step? I think it’s important, and not just because you’ll find it much easier the second time! For a church that prays together is a church which discovers God’s will; a church which prays together is one which gains a common identity and shared vision; and a church which prays together receives God’s blessing. I’m sure we all want these things to happen: and prayer is the crucial key.