Praying With You Scares Me.

I am far too shy and introverted to pray with you.  I mean I can pray in my head with you…but…wait…what’s that? You want me to pray with you… out loud?

With audible words?

Without my notes?

Off the cuff?

You surely are crazy. I mean I could stumble over my words!  I might ask God for something that he would say “No.” too!  Besides if I do not pray “properly” using the “ACTS of prayer”, or the “3R’s” or use the “6 petitions of the Lord’s Prayer”, I am going to be judged by you…I could stumble over my words and look stupid, I could make a fool of myself…right?

I thought this way my entire life.

I still think this way.

I admit it.

When it comes to praying with others I am my own worst enemy.  Praying one on one is not so bad;  It still takes some measure of vulnerability for me, but it is the “off the cuff” group prayer that really scares me. You know, when a couple guys are chatting over coffee or beer and one guy pipes up about  sin he is dealing with, or difficulties with a wayward child, or financial difficulty, or (insert scenario here that you know you should pray about…)

We are all thinking it…you, me, the other guy and girl…admit it.  The thought enters our minds…

”We should pray.”

And we all look at each other…

Waiting…

Waiting…

In silence…hoping someone else will do it.

“Just do it.” I think to myself…”NO (for the reasons above),” my sinful mind responds.

But really…just do it.

Pray.  Pray with each other.  Pray often.  Pray fervently.  Pray joyfully.

The Heidelberg Catechism says that prayer is the most important part of the thankfulness which God requires of us and that God will give His grace and the Holy Spirit only to those who constantly and with heartfelt longing ask Him for these gifts and thank him for them. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says,

Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This is GODS WILL for us!  To be joyful!  To pray without ceasing!  To give thanks in all circumstances.  Pray.  Pray, pray, pray! Pray alone, pray together, pray!  God wants us to come to Him together, before his throne of grace.  He wants us to seek him.  It is his will for us that we pray without ceasing!  So just do it!

But…

I …

Can’t…

Yes you can.  There is nothing more vulnerable, more intimate, more bonding than praying together.  Next time you are in that situation where you know you should pray with your brother or sister…just do it. Does that scare you? It scares me a little…

It shouldn’t.  God desires for us to pray together.

I am far too shy to pray out loud with you…but I will.  What about you?

**A couple of us guys are looking to start a weekly prayer group at the CanRC church in Chilliwack.  Times are not set, but we are thinking either early Wednesday morning or Saturday morning.  If you are interested in starting a prayer group please get in touch with me.**