As we see our weaknesses more clearly, we begin to grasp our need for more grace.
Less mature Christians have little need to pray. When they look at their hearts (which they rarely do), they seldom see jealousy. They are barely aware of their impatience. Instead, they are frustrated by all the slow people they keep running into. Less mature Christians are quick to give advice. There is no complexity to their worlds because the answers are simple – ‘just do what I say, and your life will be easier.’ I know all this because the ‘they’ I’ve been talking about is actually ‘me.’ That is what I’m naturally like without Jesus.
Surprisingly, mature Christians feel less mature on the inside. When they hear Jesus say, ‘Apart from me you can do nothing’ (John 15:5), they nod in agreement. They reflect on all the things they’ve done without Jesus which have become nothing. Mature Christians are keenly aware that they can’t raise their kids. It’s a no-brainer. Even if they are perfect parents, they still can’t get inside their kids’ hearts. That’s why strong Christians pray more.
It didn’t take me long to realize I did my best parenting by prayer.
If we think we do life on our own, we will not take prayer seriously.
Prayer is simply not important to many Christians because Jesus is already an add-on.
You don’t need self discipline to pray continuously; you just need to be poor in spirit.
A praying life isn’t simply a morning prayer time; it is about slipping into prayer at odd hours of the day, not because we are disciplined but because we are in touch with our own poverty of spirit, realizing that we can’t even walk through a mall or our neighborhood without the help of the Spirit of Jesus.
We become anxious when we take a godlike stance, occupying ourselves with things too great for us.
Anxiety is unable to relax in the face of chaos; continuous prayer clings to the Father in the face of chaos.
Your heart can become a prayer factory because, like Jesus, you are completely dependent. You needed God ten minutes ago; you need him now. Instead of hunting for the perfect spiritual start to lift you above the chaos, pray in the chaos. As your heart or your circumstances generate problems, keep generating prayer. You will find that the chaos lessens.
All quotes are taken from Paul Millers book A Praying Life. Want more great quotes from A Praying Life?
More posts on prayer can be found here:
Wisdom from God is so simple, so obvisous
Thanks for sharing – what peace in being needy, and having access to the Father!
So right on. To have my heart be a prayer factory is my desire. I need God every moment of everyday and that’s no joke. It’s the only way I can manage life!
How beautiful is God’s truth. It increases in depth as we spend the rest of our lives revisiting it, and I am so grateful that He opens dull hearts to receive it again and again. I read “A Praying Life” and feel the need to read it again!