By: Pastor Don Dennison
Why have we abandoned the patterns of prayer taught by Jesus and modeled by the early church?
One common practice bothers me. The North American church seems obsessed with physical health. I say that not because of an overabundance of exercise classes or the absence of potluck dinners—much to the contrary. It is the preponderance of prayer lists and spoken prayers that ask for improved health and healing on behalf of members, family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances. And don’t get me started on the all-too-frequent “And, Lord, help us get home safely!” prayer.
Please don’t hear what I’m not saying! Does God care about one’s health? Absolutely! John’s greeting, “I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul,” is a welcome word (3 John 2). But God’s sole purpose for prayer was never meant to provide a bubble protecting us and those we love from all harm.
While James instructs the elders to pray over the sick with faith so the Lord will raise them up (5:14-15), we do well to remember that Jesus never commanded us to pray for the sick! Never! But Jesus DID tell His disciples to “pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Matt 9:38). Why are we so obsessed with the former practice, while neglecting the latter obvious command of our Lord?
It’s not just CGGC churches that are guilty of this practice; I find it everywhere.
Why do gathered church bodies and our small groups fill their prayer lists with health concerns and omit such categories as national leaders, specific missionaries, other churches in the community, world crises, unreached people groups, and lost people? And what about God’s glory to be revealed in all of these needs and circumstances? John Piper reminds us: “Prayer is a wartime walkie-talkie for spiritual warfare, not a domestic intercom to increase the comforts of the saints.” We can do better!
I want to do better. I’m still a student of prayer and, in my old age, relish reading the written prayers of the church’s saints. There’s so much we can learn from them. The prayers of God’s people, including those recorded in both testaments, continue to model for us both the substance and the passion that will deepen one’s prayers.
Here are a few examples that have blessed me personally. The following “personal” prayer expresses specific thoughts I normally would not have prayed. It expands the bandwidth of what I should be praying if Christ is transforming my life.
Don (R) Prays for a Global Reach Field Leader
"Most merciful God, order my day so that I may know what you want me to do, and then help me to do it. Let me not be elated by success or depressed by failure. I want only to take pleasure in what pleases you, and only to grieve at what displeases you.
For the sake of your love I would willingly forgo all temporal comforts.
May all the joys in which you have no part weary me.
May all the work which you do not prompt be tedious to me.
Let my thoughts frequently turn to you, that I may be
obedient to you without complaint,
patient without grumbling,
cheerful without self-indulgence,
contrite without dejections,
and serious without solemnity.
Let me hold you in awe without feeling terrified of you, and let me be an example to others without any trace of pride."
-Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274
The following intercessory prayer reminds me that we don’t wear a particular political hat when we seek first His kingdom. We are called to be instruments of righteousness.
"Lord God, Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."
- The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle
More than just intercession, this prayer expresses an intentional outward focus we are all called to have as God’s people. It has been said that “prayer moves the hand of God,” (which is true!) but, if prayed sincerely, this prayer should also move us to action.
"Infinite Lord and eternal God, rouse your church in this land,
restore your people's sense of mission, and revive your work...and strength.
By your Spirit, teach us to give our energy, our time, our money, our service, and our prayer,
that your kingdom may be advanced here and in all the world;
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord."
-Prayer from the Church in Wales
I’ve benefited from the depth I find in these kinds of prayers. If you’ve found them to your liking and would like more, I’ve included a list of some books I use frequently for prayer and devotion.
Blessed is the church with a more balanced prayer life, adoring Him who is worthy of praise and petitioning the Almighty to raise up from our midst more laborers for the harvest who hear the call to reach lost people in the community and the world… just as Jesus commanded.
Suggested texts for additional prayers:
The Divine Hours by Phyllis Tickle (she wrote volumes for various seasons): I use this daily in my devotions
A Diary of Private Prayer by John Baillie: I use this at least once a year for a month
Celtic Daily Prayer from the Northumbria Community
Prayers for Today: a Yearlong Journey of Devotional Prayer by Kurt Bjorklund I'm currently using this in my devotions
Be Thou My Vision: A Liturgy for Daily Worship by Jonathan Gibson: I use this at least once a year for a month
To You All Hearts are Open: Revitalizing the Church's Pattern of Asking God by Scot McKnight
Don Dennison was the Director of Cross Cultural Ministries (now Global Reach), working at the CGGC office from 1995-2015, and since has served as an interim pastor in several CGGC churches as well as doing church and mission consulting. Now, Don and his wife Phyllis continue their missional callings with volunteer work, like teaching English to Haitian people when in Findlay and to Haitian and Spanish-speakers when they winter in Florida.
CGGC eNews—Vol. 20, No. 38
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