Part 3 of the UP Series

So far we’ve looked at –

• Give UP – giving up our need for control to let God work in and through us, and
• Clean UP – cleaning up the parts of our lives to allow God’s love to shine through.

Today let’s move on to our next phrase: Pray UP

This should be a slam dunk, a walk in the park, or a piece of cake. Choose the metaphor you like best. But I will be the first to admit that the head knowledge of what I know I should do in regards to prayer doesn’t always transfer to my actions.

Let’s take a pop quiz. When I ask a question, give me what you believe is the most accurate answer. Are you ready? Let’s go.

1. Is smoking bad for you?
2. Is eating too much sugar okay?
3. Is it possible to be inactive, eat unhealthy foods, and live a long, healthy life?
4. Last question: What is the most doctor/health expert-recommended way to lose weight and be healthy?

So when the doctor is telling us that we need to make healthier choices, does that really come as a surprise to us? And so it tends to be with our prayer life. We know what we are supposed to do, yet sometimes prayer remains at the bottom of our list of strategies of solving our problems. A few years ago, a teacher said something that made me laugh, mostly because the phrase hit a nerve. She said that when she worked at a particular Christian summer camp, all the workers had a phrase that they repeated often: “Has it come to that?” It was always in response to someone sharing that they had struggled to find answers before finally praying for help. I can imagine the conversation now: “I finally realized that God is the one who could help me.” “Has it come to that? Has it come to actually praying about it?” A funny phrase – a not-so-funny lesson to learn.

Or maybe we’re the opposite. Maybe God is our first request in the middle of a snag, but not our first praise when something goes our way.

I know all the Sunday School answers: Prayer is just communication with God. We should pray every day. You should pray at all times. You should not pray only when things are bad. Yadda, yadda, yadda, yadda…

But still I struggle. Look at the wonderful examples in the Bible. Adam and Eve had direct contact with God. Daniel prayed three times a day, even when the consequence was losing his life. Job continued to pray even when everything and everyone except his nagging wife was taken from him. On second thought, maybe that’s why he continued to pray. Lord, take her from me. And do you really think I’m going to compare my prayer life to Jesus’?

Um, no. In fact I’m more like Peter, James, and John when Jesus asked them,

“Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour?” (Matthew 26:41, NLT)

But there a few things that I strive to do that I hope can be of interest and help.

• Say breath prayers.

This advice, which I dearly love and practice often, comes from Nelson Searcy who wrote a book on worship titled Revolve. (pg. 48) Breath prayers are just that – quick, breath prayers that we pray throughout the day. I’ve become quite adept at this, considering most of my prayers sound like “Lord, please don’t let me say anything stupid.” I’ll let you know if that prayer gets answered. Don’t hold your breath.

• Make it personal.

God saved YOU. You have a unique story and relationship with Him. Don’t compare your journey with anyone else’s.

• Give God your best at your best.

I’m not an early riser. Mornings for me are usually reserved for breath prayers while I run around the house trying to find everything I need for the day. The evening is usually my most favorite time of day and when I feel at my best. What’s your best part of the day? (To be clear, I do think there’s something to be said for starting your day with Jesus. But the key is being intentional about it.)

There are so many verses and examples that we could look at, but the one I think of often is when Jesus gave instructions to the disciples in Matthew 6:7: “But when ye pray…”

When you pray, not if you pray.

Give UP, clean UP, pray UP.