A Praying Life (Chapters 1-4)

Leonard Ravenhill said, “Pastors who are not praying are playing.” I need/want to grow in my prayer life. I want to pray more like Jesus!

Toward this end, I am re-reading the book “A Praying Life” by Paul E. Miller and blogging some thoughts, comments, ideas, and questions here.

I invite anyone to read all or some of this book with me and add comments to the conversation.

Chapter 1 (What Good Does It Do?)

In this chapter Paul Miller tells the story of wrestling over whether he should pray to find a contact lens his daughter Ashley just lost on the ground. Ultimately he does pray and he finds it!

Great Quote: “American culture is probably the hardest place in the world to learn to pray.” (15) 

Chapter 2 (Where We Are Headed)

In this chapter we see what the praying life looks like, which might not be what we expect it to look like!

3 Great Quotes:

1. “The praying life looks like dinner with friends” (p. 19) 
2. “Many people struggle to learn how to pray because they are focusing on praying, not on God.” (p. 22) 
3. “Learning to pray doesn’t offer us a less busy life, it offers a less busy heart.” (p. 23) 

Chapter 3 (Become Like A Little Child)

In this chapter we are encouraged to be like children and come messy to God in prayer.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28- “Come to me all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

2 Great Quotes Applying Matthew 11:28:

1. “Weary people have trouble concentrating and heavy laden people have so many burdens that they don’t know where to start.” (p. 32) 
2. “Don’t try to get prayer right just tell God where you are at and what’s on your mind. That’s what little children do.” (p. 32) 

Chapter 4 (Learn to Talk With Your Father)

In this chapter we are reminded that we should talk to God in prayer as a child talks to a Father with lots of asking, lots of faith, and we can be more playful than structured.

Great Quote: “When you stop trying to be an adult and get it right, prayer will just flow…” (p. 41) 

Some Thoughts So Far…

I often do not pray because I have made I have made prayer into something I have to be ‘put together’ for.

Sometimes I will put off meetings with people because I am “not ready” to meet with them because my emotions, energy, thoughts, and words are not fully prepared. Even though my schedule will allow, I sometimes will never meet with the person! From chapters 1-4 I am encouraged not do let this happen in my prayer life.

In prayer I can come to God messy.