The prayer life I never had

I longed to pray but never could

With a willing heart but tired bones

The snooze button, I loved to hate

A reminder that I could do it late

 

I searched all around for the miracle bug

A book, a word to get me done.

For the life of me, it didn’t work

so to the church, I went as one in bonds.

 

I watched them sing in songs of praise

Their hands they moved as words dictate

A part of me hoped but could not relate

to this life of words and genuflect.

 

Could it be I had it wrong,

after the others and not his call?

Every year a line in my dirty slate 

But never one I could imitate.

 

I know I want to be like the Lord

To seek the time to meet his Lord.

But my life flows and I lose the cords

to ring me back to the one I love.

 

Where do I start if I cannot speak?

What do I claim if I never hear?

May his kingdom come and will be done

But will he give me bread if I ask him not? 

 

Peace I seek in the midnight hour

and calm through the chaos of the day.

That my eyes may look to the hills up high

for there you are, my help and King.

 

May my praise be alive with joy

and the words that fail me flow to you.

I am the branch burdened by the world

Prune me that I may rise higher than I.

 

Let prayer be my life and guide

a chosen course for the ones you love.

Let my life be forever tied

to a prayer life, I shall surely have.

 

Your prayer life matters

The above poetic prose (a writing style which mixes poetry and prose) was inspired by my desire to grow my prayer life and develop my communion with God.

If you’ve ever felt like a barren land, bereft of a wonderful relationship with the father, I hope you know you’re not alone. There have been many times I felt this way, not because God had left me for he never leaves or forsakes us. But because I had moved away, and had turned my thoughts and mind from him. Rather than commune with him, I felt what I had was enough to sustain me during the rainy days.

I don’t know what you’re going through and can’t even imagine it all but I just want to remind you that it isn’t too late to turn back to him, to make time to commune with him and grow the most important relationship you will ever have.

Maybe you relied on the prayers of the church, your family or friends but these can never sustain you. You need to grow independently of everyone else. Quiet times’ are a personal endeavour with our one true God and I hope you are encouraged to pursue this with your all.

I will be rooting for you and I pray you get to pray like never before.

That you call on him and believe he will answer you and hear your voice. But more than that, that you seek to fellowship with him and know what his will is for your life.

 

“As for me, I will call upon God, and the Lord shall save me. Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and he shall hear my voice.”

Psalm 55:16-17

 

“Pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of the Father through Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:17