J.Johns Newsletter

13 October 2009

Dear Friends

In my experience there are few other subjects that make us feel riddled with as much guilt as the subject of prayer. For many of us, the subject of prayer is one that makes us feel uncomfortable; we don’t pray as we should, as we want to or as we might hope to. We would all like to be given a formula that would make prayer easy, that would make it always a joy, that would see our prayers victoriously answered. And there are many books around espousing such techniques. But it strikes me that we ought to talk realistically about our talking to God. Perhaps that does mean recognising the weakness of our prayer lives. If that’s how you feel - a failure in prayer - bring that before God. Now, into this area of weakness or poverty, hear Jesus’ words: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ (Matthew 5:2). We are poor in spirit, but we are blessed - What’s all that about? Well it is all about the fact that prayer is not first and foremost about us, our prayers, our devotion, our wonderful spiritual lives - but about God.

Let’s turn to one of the most famous chapters of the Bible.

Romans 8:15
‘By the Spirit we cry "Abba, Father."’ True prayer is an act of God in us. It is never simply a human activity. Recently I heard a statistic that 79% of people in this country pray - well perhaps in a loose sort of sense! But Paul says in this bit of the Bible that prayer is not a human activity - it is something the Spirit does in us.

What is it that the Holy Spirit does? He brings us to call God ‘Father’. He joins us to God - we are no longer distanced from him. No, we are brought into a relationship with the God of the whole world, with the Maker of all things. And we address God as ‘Father’ - the most intimate of terms, of relationships. This is what prayer is all about - the sustaining and cultivating of this relationship. Do you know, every time Jesus prayed, he called God ‘Father’. Think about your prayer life, who does it focus on most - you or God? The Spirit comes to bring us into full knowledge about God as our Father. In prayer we are not thrown on ourselves, we do not begin with our efforts, but with the presence of God in our lives by his Spirit. Prayers well up inside of us, the Spirit yelps in our hearts - ‘Father’.

Romans 8:26
‘The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We don’t know what we ought to pray but the Spirit prays within us...’ Not only does God initiate prayer, he keeps it going, he sustains it.

Do you feel your prayer life is weak? Do you feel all too aware of how much you have to learn, how much more of a prayerful person you want to become?

If that’s you (and it’s me) don’t be discouraged - this is a sign of the Spirit’s work inside you. It almost goes against everything we have been brought up to believe - that the awareness of our weak spirituality is actually a work of God’s Spirit in us. But he doesn’t leave us struggling, but helps us, intercedes for us, gives us words, tongues, yearnings which are the things we don’t even know we need. Often people come up to me and ask me a question like, ‘J.John, I’m at a loss to know what to do about my prayer life. I find it so hard to pray.’

And I say, ‘Well pray then.’

‘But you don’t understand that’s just the problem - I can’t - it’s so difficult.’

‘Well pray then ...’

The groaning, which questions like this reveal, shows us that far from giving up when it gets tough, we should keep on. Recognise the work of the Spirit.

Learn to let the Spirit groan within you.

Romans 8:34
‘Jesus Christ is at the right hand of God interceding for us ...’ Not only can we call God ‘Father’ by God’s work, not only is our prayer the Spirit’s work in us, but we find this stunning fact tucked away in verse 34 - Jesus is praying for us the whole time.

Prayer isn’t about what we do for God, or about us suggesting things or people to God, which he might not have thought of. It is not that we have better ideas than God or that we have to encourage him to love us. Prayer is something we join in. Jesus is alive and is at the right hand of the Father praying for us, for his Church and for the world. Jesus is praying to the Father on our behalf - for my friends and your friends, for our families, for our nations and, yes, for me. Jesus prays for you and for me. This is how much he loves us. This is how committed he is to us. If you are finding prayer almost impossible, hold out for the truth of this verse - Jesus is praying for you, he never gives up, never tires. This is how special you are to him.

Prayer is about joining in. It’s about listening closely enough to Jesus’ prayers that we begin to learn how best to pray.

So we find out there is so much going on before we even get down on our knees. God has done, is doing and will do so much to draw us into a deeper relationship with him. Prayer is a wonderful gift - let’s not leave it unopened on the shelf.

Philo Trust
Website www.philotrust.com

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