Kneeling beside my bed, I folded my hands and carefully recited my nightly prayers.
Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep,
If I should die before I ‘wake,
I pray the Lord my soul to take.
Some nights my mom and/or dad knelt beside me and with heads bowed we prayed, looking forward to the next day.
This simple act brought comfort and normality to my bedtime routines. The recitation of the prayers provided a foundation for my early understanding of praying.
The older I got, the more I wished for something over and above the routine. My prayer expectations went beyond the rote and familiar prayers of childhood and turned toward personal conversations.
I began to realize that routine prayers were perfect for childhood, but intentional time and a heart turned toward God encouraged my adult yearnings.
Prayer is the space for hopeful expectations to grow into the blessing of what is yet to come. #TellHisStory Click To TweetPrayer is the space for hopeful expectations to grow into the blessing of what is yet to come.
For many years, I didn’t believe I was capable of more than praying the prayers that others had recited for generations. As time went on, I stood in groups of people willing to pray out loud for the needs of those standing on the fringe. The shift was subtle but sudden and a new way opened its doors for me to deepen my relationship with God.
I began to believe that there was life beyond routine recitations.
Timothy Keller in Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God speaks of prayer like this:
Prayer is continuing a conversation that God has started through his Word and his grace, which eventually becomes a full encounter with him.
Prayer is the pinnacle on which my day begins and ends. When I stood in the groups of people and listened to the intimate way in which they talked to God, I began to explore prayer in a new way.
I wanted what they had!
A time of exploration and one on one conversations began as I dived deeper into my time with God. No longer were rote prayers enough. Instead, the spilling of the deepest parts of my heart became commonplace, but within the secret place of my wonderings with God.
Praying became a time of worship as words of gratitude, praise, and desires flowed in a rhythmic-like chorus. I slowly stepped out of my inner secret place and shared the words that God prompted me to pray for others. Hesitantly at first and then with more courage, prayer reflected a time of blessing and healing. The uncertainty I felt for years turned toward a reliance on God to provide the words needed at just the right time.
What has your prayer journey looked like? Did you grow up praying and if so, what are your memories of childhood prayers?
As I read these words from Matthew, I paused, hearing God say He is with me and you. As I pray, God prays too. Take a moment and let these words flow over you in a promise from God and remember deep calls to deep.
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:6 ESV
My evolution of prayer expectations is a journey that continues to grow and change as my relationship with God deepens. The process does not look like a one-sided conversation, but a leaning in to listen and learn from the One who revolutionizes our prayer life.
We become stronger and more courageous when we spend time with God in prayer. Bob Sorge, author of Secrets of the Secret Place, refers to it as a secret place where we talk and listen to God.
As I wrap up today, let me encourage you with these words from Bob Sorge:
It’s a great delight to talk to God, but it’s even more thrilling when He talks to us. I’ve discovered that He has more important things to say than I do. Things don’t change when I talk to God; things change when God talks to me. When I talk, nothing happens; when God talks, the universe comes into existence. So the power of prayer is found, not in convincing God of my agenda, but in waiting upon Him to hear His agenda.
Blessings as we pray together in community for the miracle of the birth of Jesus!
Reminders:
There will not be a linkup on Christmas or New Year’s Day. I will see you for Tell His Story again on January 8.
Please join me this Sunday, December 23 for the final post in my Advent series. You can catch all posts by clicking HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE.
Did you know I put a call out to all members of the Tell His Story community to become a guest writer in the New Year? The third Tuesday of each month will be devoted to YOU! Your words are important to share as we bring glory to God. Click HERE to find the sign up form.
And, if you have three minutes will you take a look at this Advent video. Just me sharing some thoughts about the Third Week of Advent. 🙂
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I think it’s interesting how hearing others pray can often really influence our own prayer lives. There are several people that I’ve heard pray that have encouraged me to draw more intimately to God myself.
Have a Merry Christmas, Mary!
It’s good to know that we share a similar prayer experience. I didn’t think I knew how to pray on my own so when I began to hear others pray, it helped me to gain courage to pray on my own. Thank you for sharing your own journey. Merry Christmas!
Prayer has been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. Like you, as child I recited, “Now I lay me down to sleep…” just before bed. My dad also taught me to pray for our family by saying, “God bless, Mommy, Daddy, Billy, Betsy, Bonnie…” I went on to pray for my cats and then my dolls! 😉 My prayers have matured over the years, and as they have matured, so has my relationship with the Lord! And, that is one of the great benefits of prayer! It deepens our relationship and keeps us connected with our Maker!
I wonder if many of us said the same prayers at bedtime. As I was looking at the words of Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, I thought the words were kind of scary for a child. I agree that as my own prayer life has grown, so has my relationship with God. Thank you for sharing your own prayer journey.
I just popped back over to your blog and thought I’d share a second verse that can be added to that traditional childhood prayer… My sister actually shared it with me when my kids were little: “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. If I should live for other days, I pray the Lord to guide my ways.” The addition of the last sentence removes the scariness a bit…Don’t you think?
Blessings! Joan
Studying God’s word come so easy for me, but prayer is not as natural. Not sure why that is but you have inspired me. Thank you. laurensparks.net
I think there may be others who feel like you, Lauren. Studying God’s word is more passive whereas praying is active. I hope you are able to dig into this more over time. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Mary, I think I recognize that bird! I may even have some photos of him on my phone too LOL I love this post and Bob Sorge is a favorite of mine – His Secrets of the Secret Place book is life changing. But this line you wrote: Prayer is the space for hopeful expectations to grow into the blessing of what is yet to come. .. it was my favorite! I love thinking of prayer being the space and place to let the hopeful expectations grow! Merry Christmas my friend and we will see you after the New Year!
Yes that bird was around all week in SC. I’m glad to hear you also know of Bob Sorge and his book, Secrets of the Secret Place. I heard about this book when we were at Allume together. I started reading it shorty after that. Thank you for your kind words. God truly woke me up with those words about prayer one morning. And that’s how this post came into being. Merry Christmas, dear friend!
This is a great post, Mary! I enjoyed reading about your journey of prayer. It is amazing that God cares about everything we have to say and that we can go to him just as we are. It makes a big difference to move beyond trying to do it “properly” and realising we can just be honest with God. I agree, we can learn a lot from witnessing others’ pray and the way they talk to God can inspire us to go deeper too.
Thank you, Lesley! It has been a journey and it has changed who I am and my relationship with God. It’s nice to know that God just craves time with us and praying is one of those ways to be with Him. I have learned so much from hearing others pray and honestly my sons have been my greatest example. Blessings to you this week and have a Merry Christmas.
I loved this friend! I have come to appreciate and love praying for others. But so often it feels like my words and prayers are very similar. I love this reminder! As long as it comes from my heart…that’s truly all that matters!
I have watched you blossom as you held prayer time on Facebook. It is such a blessing to do that for others. Praying is a gift and blessing for others. Thanks you for sharing today.
You have such a calming, gentle voice, Mary. I love your Advent video. How true that “we don’t see the beauty we usually see when we’re not in the wilderness.” I have learned it’s in the wilderness valleys where God teaches me the deepest lessons of His bottomless love. May you have a joy-filled Christmas!
Thank you for listening to the video. I pray that we all see the richness that is present in the wilderness times. God is with us always and His presence is a beautiful thing. Merry Christmas blessings to you and yours.
I love the Steven Curtis Chapman song ‘Let Us Pray’–it always reminds me that prayer is a constant conversation with God. It’s a habit that makes life sweeter.
I’m not sure if I know SCC’s song, Let us Pray. I’m going to go look it up. May we pray constantly so that life is always sweeter.
A lot of amen’s for this post. Prayer = never say amen! I’ll link up later.
Thank you, Susan! I love this “Prayer=never say amen! Blessings!
What a beautiful description of your journey from a child’s prayer recitation to a mature conversation with God. Thank you for the reminder that prayer involves us submitting to God’s will, not the other way around!
Thank you for your kind words. Isn’t it just like God to grow us in a way that leads us closer to Him? May we take the reminder of how much God loves us and plans a beautiful life for us as a sign that we are headed in the right direction.
Mary, I’ve noticed my prayer life takes giant leaps during times of crisis and helplessness. There are ebbs and flows for sure. But I am noticing that there is more of a steady conversation that’s developed over time, a praying without ceasing.
And I’m grateful that He’s interested enough to communicate His love to me during those times when companionship is the only agenda on my list.
I can see how prayer would grow exponentially when we are faced with life’s struggles or even accomplishments. But I love the steady progress God encourages that leads us closer to Him. I am thrilled to be in a place in my life where prayer has not only become important but looks so different than that of my childhood. Thank you for sharing!
Mary, this may be one of your best posts ever! Wow. You have done some great reading on prayer. I loved that Timothy Keller quote about prayer being a continuation of the conversation God started in His Word. So good. I appreciate reading about your journey here; I know I could learn a lot from you by praying with you!
Wow! Thank you for that high praise. I love sharing the lessons I am learning because I pray that there is someone who connects with my words or has a similar journey. What a sweet blessing it would be to sit and pray with you too.
Good morning Mary. I liked your description of your journey “sudden yet subtle”. It is just beautiful how He lifts the veil and walks us through the new discoveries. Have a blessed Tuesday, dear sister.
There is something about a revelation that feels like a light bulb was turned on. That’s how I feel about my prayer journey. Thank you for stopping by! Blessings on your Tuesday.
I appreciated hearing about your prayer journey, Mary, and how it changed as you grew in the Lord. I used the same childhood prayer as well as one for mealtime. I did not grow up in a Christian family, and I don’t remember when I started praying on my own, realizing it was a conversation with God who loved me. But over the years, through His Word and the teaching and example of others, I learned that prayer isn’t so much asking God to bless my plans and begging Him to do my will, but rather seeking His plans and His will and His grace to align myself accordingly. Our church is going through the psalms right now, and I love the variety of emotion expressed there, encouraging our freedom to be totally honest with God amidst all the highs and lows of life.
Thank you for sharing your prayer journey. I also had a mealtime prayer that we always said before dinner. But when I began the process of engaging in conversations with God a new world was opened to me. I imagine the Psalms are leading you through a vast array of emotions. What a beautiful way to pray.
Thank you for sharing your prayer journey, Mary. I can remember also feeling muzzled, reluctant to voice prayer aloud, and while I am very aware that God knows my every thought, I find that saying the words for my own ears slows me down and encourages me to give more thought to what I’m expressing.
God is so patient. It stops me in my tracks to realize that He hangs on my every word just as I do when one of my kids comes home and wants to chat.
It’s interesting that you share how God already knows our every thought. But even still, we are asked to name our desires and say our prayers out loud because of the power in naming them. Don’t you love knowing that God adores everything about us and even hanging on every word? It stops me in my tracks to think about the reality of His love for me. Thank you for sharing your own journey.
Mary, wonderful post and I love the quote from Bob Sorge. Prayer is such a privilege – just knowing that God not only hears my prayers but also changes me when He speaks. It was good to be reminded that prayer is not convincing God of my agenda but the place where He aligns my life with His purposes. Blessings!
I read Secrets of the Secret Place several years ago and loved it. The whole book is filled with amazing things about prayer and quiet time. There is something very convicting about remembering that our life if really God’s life and His agenda is primary to ours. I’m praying for you as we are only one week away from Christmas. May this week be a time of complete peace.