Last night I began asking the question “What then is prayer?“. Tonight’s post continues the discussion to look at how Silence and Life can also become prayer.
Silence
As a homeschooling mother of ten children who are home all day with me and a woman who prefers to be alone, silence is quite likely my favorite form of prayer! However, I have always felt pressured to perform, or at least speak, when praying to God. What freedom to think that I can sit silently in the presence of the Lord without an agenda! Or I can confidently invite my Father to examine, search out and scrutinize my heart for thoughts, actions or beliefs that are not honoring to Him. Sitting, listening, silence and solitude all can also become prayer.
Life
“Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7) God gives us breath of life, and with that very breath, we can respond to Him in prayer. Inhales and exhales of that living breath of life become prayer as we utter our deepest longings and needs under our breath. “Lord, keep my eyes fixed on You alone.” As we embrace the person God created us to be – with our unique passions, abilities, skills and gifts – and use those to serve and honor Him, we also pray. As we walk in confidence as image-bearers of God, finding our identity in Christ alone, we pray. As we live in the power of the resurrection, with our wounds now honoring Him and ministering to others, we also pray. As we rest and refrain from constant striving, just as He did on the seventh day, we pray. The very rhythms of life – celebration, mourning, ordinary time – all become opportunities and avenues for prayer.
Tomorrow’s post will conclude this series on prayer, looking at how even Love can becomes prayer.
