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Posted by on Mar 21, 2013 in Faith | 3 comments

Teach us to pray

Teach us to pray

Sitting in my office early one morning recently, I tried to pray for someone who’s hurting. Hurting very badly.

And I almost couldn’t do it.

Because in prayer, we enter into the person’s pain, feel it with them, and try to assuage it by bearing the burden to the Father on their behalf.

We come with our own pains sometimes and so maybe we limp into His presence, already feeling heavy with the weight of ourselves.

We feel the gentle press of the Spirit in sympathy, in burden, in heaviness, and we know we must make great effort to clear out distraction, set ourselves aside, and pray.  Sometimes we have to roll aside the massive weight of our own selfish hearts.

So, through prayer, we become the friends of the paralytic, hoisting a corner of the mat and heading for Jesus. And maybe, mysteriously, we lighten the load.  Maybe, in a sense, that injured person lifts up weary head with tired neck, and sees Jesus in sight where once was darkness and defeat.

That invisible Holy Spirit blows through a mind cluttered with fear and worry, and suddenly hope lights up on the wind, like a kite soaring.

Can we do this for someone else this week?

Oh Lord, teach us to pray.

About The Author

Ashley Haupt http://www.littlepiecesofordinary.com

Thoughtful, sensitive, creative. Believer, dreamer, visionary. Book reader, theology lover, occasional runner. Wife, mama, poet. Iced coffee and hot tea drinker.

Ashley Haupt has blogged 73 posts at wordslingersok.com

3 responses to “Teach us to pray”

  1. Austin Griffith says:

    Thank you Ashley for this encouragement about prayer. One of my friends is going through a really rough time financially and I do find it hard to pray wondering why all the bad stuff seems to happen to my good friends. It really is giving the burden to God. I cannot handle burdens well. He sure does though. That encourages me greatly that I don’t have to try and fix their problem.

    Austin Griffith

    • Ashley Haupt says:

      I know, Austin. I understand. When we genuinely pray, it’s hard at first. I think that’s the carrying part of the journey. When we get to Jesus, we pass it over, and we’re light again. Bless you!

      • Austin Griffith says:

        Ashley keep on the encouraging. You are a blessing to so many. So thankful for the body of Christ.

        Austin

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