During May we will celebrate Jesus' ascension and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, two somewhat anticlimactic events on the church calendar, relatively speaking; Christmas and Easter are hard acts to follow, yet Ascension and Pentecost remind us that we live in the era between Christ's first and second coming, and that in his absence, he has sent the very Spirit of God to dwell in us.
It is especially appropriate in this season to consider how the Spirit is at work in our lives. The Spirit works in our hearts to draw us closer to God, helps us to understand his plan for our lives, and empowers us to do his will. In essence, the Spirit deepens our relationship with God, but all relationships require give and take. We become attuned to God's will when we read his word and meet him in prayer.
In the survey on devotions and prayer that you filled out a few months ago, you were candid about your struggles to develop these disciplines. I struggle too, so I would like to share some encouraging insights I have recently gained in this regard.
One morning a year or so ago, as I was heading out the door for work, a story on the morning newscast caught my attention. The announcer was describing the results of a study regarding the best predictors of a successful, long-lasting marriage. Surprisingly, the best predictor was not whether the couple still felt romantically toward each other, or communicated well, or shared common interests. The best predictor turned out to be whether or not the couple shared a perfunctory kiss each day before parting ways. I think about that news story almost every morning when I kiss my wife before heading to work, and I understand why this simple, somewhat thoughtless habit may help a marriage succeed. This daily gesture reaffirms our relationship and acknowledges on a regular basis that we are in it together. It sets the tone, even if unconsciously, for all that will follow the rest of the day, good or bad.
I believe perfunctory prayers serve a similar purpose. When we asked you about your prayer life, many of you told us that praying was frustrating, difficult, and even ineffective. I also get frustrated by my seemingly simplistic and overly repetitive prayers. But Dwight's practical sermons on prayer and the recent Sunday school series on "How to Pray and Read the Bible" have reminded me that these perfunctory prayers are a start in the right direction, and are perhaps more meaningful than I have often assumed.
Like a parting kiss each day, saying a prayer, no matter how plain-spoken, reaffirms that we believe in a real God who desires to be in a relationship with us, and that he is in control. It says that we depend on his daily graces in good times and bad, and sets the tone for all that we will do for the rest of the day. While we recycle many of the phrases and ideas in these prayers out of sheer habit, they express the core or our faith in God, and are rich with meaning if we can take the time to contemplate them.
So let me close by encouraging each of you, as I have been encouraged. As you strive to develop a discipline of daily prayer, do not be concerned about eloquence, or how long you pray, or even what you pray about. Just get started. Any prayer, no matter how simple or repetitive, is a start on the right track. You will be building your relationship with God, and will be better prepared to listen to his Spirit working in you.
