The Dimensions of Prayer

 

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. (Psalm 141:2)

Prayer has many dimensions. Prayers are offered in corporate worship. Corporate worship joins the individual to the saints in heaven and to the Body of Christ on earth. The initial prayers prepare the people to "receive the King of all things, who comes escorted by unseen armies of angels" (The Cherubic Hymn).

Another dimension of prayer is what happens in private. Private prayers are often deeply personal. They come from the heart. Sometimes the heart is broken. God loves to comfort the broken heart. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Prayer often involves asking for something we want or feel we need. If we are fortunate, God will give us what is best for us. We should make requests for ourselves in humility, as Jesus Himself submitted to the will of the Father when He asked to have the cup of sorrow removed, and then said, "Nevertheless, not my will but thy will be done" (Luke 22:42).

Philippians 4:6-7 states: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

We are to pray, supplicate and give thanks to God. This is a way of life for the Christian. We are told "in everything" to make our requests known to God.

Note also that we are admonished to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. A life of Christ-centered prayer protects us from dark thoughts. Grant, that being ever protected by Thy power, to Thee we may ascribe glory, to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and for ever, and from all Ages to all Ages."

Personal prayer and corporate prayer in worship are aspects of the Christian's life. We are not meant to be alone! We gather to hear the Gospel that feeds us. Some ancient liturgical prayers include these words: "May we be accounted worthy to hear thy holy Gospel." We gather to sing praises. We gather to receive Communion, another way in which God feeds us.

Some prayers are intercessions for others. We are urged to pray for others because others are aided by our prayers. "How great is the daring, O Lord, of that man who fears not to plead for an man, a mortal for a mortal, ashes for ashes, before thee, our Lord and Master!" (Gregorian Sacramentary)

We pray for others in private and in times of corporate worship. "Look thou thyself O Master, according to thy tenderness of heart, on us and on this holy house; and deal with us, and those who pray with us, in the riches of thy mercies and thy compassions" (Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom).

Finally, the Apostle Paul reminds us to give thanks. We are to thank God for the innumerable mercies He has shown us, especially for the forgiveness of sins and eternal life through Jesus Christ. We are to acknowledge with grateful hearts the ways God is working in our lives and in the lives of those for whom we pray.

Related reading: Prayer as a Spiritual Lifeline