On Prayer
By Brandon Morgan
Oftentimes when we think of talking to God, we think about Old Testament prophets who God would speak to in mighty ways. And that’s a part of it, but not the whole picture. Sometimes we think of charismatic ministries where people receive personal “words” or “touches” from God. Again, that’s a part of communion with God, but not the whole picture.
As we open up this conversation about communion with God, I’d like to turn to Exodus and visit the prophet of the living God, Moses. In Exodus 33:11, scripture mentions that “God spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend.” To me, this is the heart of the prophetic tradition. Communing with God face to face isn’t reserved for the “greats” in times past, but that access, that face-to-face friendship is something we all have access to in the present. This is the heart of the prophetic tradition, a pursuit of friendship with God and the encouragement of others to become friends with God.
This road to friendship is communion. This communion is achieved through prayer.
Prayer is the one activity that ties together the faculties of the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. We were made to pray because we were made for God.[1] Prayer keeps us connected to the vine (John 15), so that we might bear fruit as children of God. Now all Christians are on board with prayer generally, but the differences lie in form and frequency.
Let’s talk about form. Some think of prayer as a dedicated space, a dedicated time. A calendar block where we go into our payer closet and “pray up” to God. I agree with this form, and I think there’s more. The purpose of this prayer is that it “covers us” for our day, so that we are walking in both virtue and favor. Again, having a set aside quiet time is important where we’re away from the noise of the world. But again, it’s an incomplete aspect to prayer. Because, there’s the assumption that you pray, God blesses your day, and you leave Him there only to return in that same space and time later.
But does not the scripture instruct us to “pray without ceasing”? What if there was a way for God to accompany us (or better yet for us to accompany God) in all the things we do? What if there was a way of entering into an uninterrupted communion with the Father?
Enter the prayer of simplicity. The reason why it’s so simple is because it claims we don’t have to go far to pray. Through the Holy Spirit, both the Father and Son already dwell within us. This prayer just requires us to go inward to commune with Them. This practice has been used for centuries by Christian mystics as an attempt to love God with all their hearts and to commune with them at all times. These teachings have been passed down from generation to generation and have inspired theologians such as: John Wesley, Count Zinzendorf, and Brother Lawrence. With this form of prayer, it doesn’t cease even after leaving that “sacred space.” (Notice that this is why I use the expression quiet time as opposed to devotional or prayer time because those statements assume that prayer or devotion end once that set-aside time is over.) With the prayer of simplicity, any space can become a sacred space.
What I’m not saying: I can hear people already mentioning: “Oh you’re not advocating for Christians to have separate prayer time.” That’s not what I’m saying at all. The quiet in those spaces has the capability to tip over and pour the oil of communion for us throughout our day.
An analogy: let’s say I love someone romantically. Often, what I’ll do (in a Western culture) is that I’ll take the person out on dates to get to know more and fall deeper in love with. Now at some point, this person and I would likely get married, dedicating our lives to one another. Now, with this more intentional level of love, should I keep going on dates with the person? Absolutely. Going on dates with the person will deepen the intimacy and the special times of the relationship. Should that be all I do? Absolutely not. In some respects, you become a part of that person and that person becomes a part of you. You cohabitate. You eat together. Find something to watch together, etc. All I’m saying is that in the marriage between God and our soul, the relationship should naturally evolve into more than those separate times of intimacy.
In Practice: This approach is strongly inspired by Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Jeanne Guyon [1] if you are interested in reading more about the practice, but these are good starting points.
1. Before you begin, this type of prayer requires a very real surrender of both heart and will. Sometimes, I imagine myself giving my heart to God; God will not override your desires and what you want to do, but it can be hard to hear what His will and desires are without first laying that down. Perhaps, gently whispering “Father” or “Your kingdom come, Your will be done” can be ways to initiate this surrender.\
2. Once the heart and will have quieted, physical quiet and isolation can be helpful (hence importance of quiet times).
3. Then, what is required is faith and patience. It’s the belief that God really does reward those who diligently seek Him. During these times, I’ll often feel overcome by a Presence that’s not my own. It usually comes with peace, joy, comfort, and love.
4. Dwell with Him. Sit with that Presence, and even when it departs, continue dwelling in the tent similar to Joshua. [2]
5. Express gratitude when that Presence comes and even when it doesn’t.
6. As you conclude your “quiet time,” invite God to walk with you in your day. When you realize you are no longer discerning Him in your day, simply turn back inward. An important step, understanding that the Kingdom of God is truly within us, and that the King makes His dwelling place within us, is the way we can encounter Him at all times. These moments of inward turning, and retreating within serve as the foundation for uninterrupted prayer throughout the day.
Brandon Morgan is currently a leadership facilitator, researcher, and consultant in Boston, MA. He is passionate about oneness in the Church. When Brandon isn’t working, he can be found: rock climbing, reading, writing, spending time with those he loves, and playing solitaire with real cards (yeah, really).
References
[1] Motte, Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de La. Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ. SeedSowers Publishing, 1975.
[2] See Exodus 33:11