A Prayer Idea

When it comes time for the preacher to prepare for the Pastoral Prayer which takes place during the Sunday Morning worship service, many a preacher has done nary a thing since what the moment amounts to is praying and praying is all too familiar an arena for most preachers.  No preparation is probably not a good thing.  And while some might prepare by writing the prayer to be read during the time in the ritual for praying, there is something else which might be of even greater benefit.

Instead of using the head to figure out what to pray, maybe using the heart is a better option.  Instead of getting it written down and figured out, praying and asking God for guidance might be the best idea.  It might seem strange to some to simply ask God the question, "How do You want me to pray today?  About what do You want me to pray this morning?" but if it is something not tried, the results might be surprising.  Actually, such a prayer could be a good idea for anyone who draws aside to pray.

Years ago after reading some notes on prayer written by someone farther down the road of faith, I decided to be more intentional about asking God how to pray before launching forth.  I remember the first time someone came in the office asking for prayer and instead of just assuming I knew how to pray for this seeker, I entered into some silent time in their presence before actually verbalizing the prayer.  I was surprised at the results and learned from the brief moment that asking God for direction in praying was a better idea than assuming I already knew.  It is an idea which has helped this preacher when praying in the public places as well as the quiet closets where only God was present.