Week Forty-Six - Elements of Prayer

This year, I have been reading one chapter of the Bible each day. I'm recording a truth from each chapter, and then writing a short meditation. 

At the time of this writing, I've gotten as far as 2 Chronicles 6, where Solomon prays his consecration prayer for the temple, which has just been completed. He gathers an assembly of elders and chiefs, along with the Levites, who bring in the Ark of the Covenant and place it in the Holy of Holies with singers fully dressed in white linen, accompanied by trumpets and cymbals following the procession, proclaiming the goodness of God.

Solomon publicly acknowledges the hand of God in the building of the temple, as well as the preparation and the heart of his father, David. Then, he kneels down before all the congregation of Israel, spreads his hands toward heaven, and begins to pray. It is a beautiful prayer; you should take time to read it. (Verses 14-42)

Solomon's prayer blends elements such as praise, humility, honesty, hope, and even an acknowledgment of the inevitability of failure as he places the people before God, pleading for mercy and forgiveness. He asks God to forgive the people's future sins five times, and the pinnacle of the prayer is found in verse 31, where he asks that God forgive because His act of mercy will help the people to remember to "fear thee, to walk in thy ways."

So here is our challenge. What do our prayers look like? Or rather, what do they sound like? Are they mixed with elements of praise, humility, honesty, hope, a plea, and even an acknowledgment of our expected failures, along with a request for God's forgiveness in advance? 

Or are they prayers done by a list of needs with no personal empathy or emotional attachment? Are they short and lifeless? Are they full of repeated phrases or platitudes that have long lost their meaning?

Most of us know the Lord's Prayer, and that is a great starting point for learning to pray; however, we must move beyond this initial form to a heartfelt relationship in prayer. Solomon's humble recognition of God's greatness and activity is his way of saying, "Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name." His requests and hopes are pinned solely upon the goodness and mercy of the great God he serves. His prayer is a humble act of recognition and thanksgiving, marked by submission to God and a recognition of His sovereignty, as well as by Solomon's understanding of his privileged position. 

This type of vivid prayer opens our eyes to God's activity and leads us to live in sincere reverence for God and a more obedient walk. So, what do your prayers look like? Are they lively or limp? What do they sound like? Full of praise or full of complaining? 

God loves to hear from His children, so whether your prayers are accompanied by great fanfare or confined to the secret place, may they be prayers full of praise, humility, honesty, and hope leading you into a deeper love and a more steadfast obedience to God.