Reflection of our Prayer Life

This writer always enjoys reading and meditating on the writings of Oswald Chambers, a faithful servant of God from the early twentieth century. The book “Prayer – a Holy Occupation”, which is a compilation of his discourses on praying, raises many thought-provoking questions about our prayers. Since April is our church’s Month of Prayer, this writer would like to borrow twenty questions from the book to help us reflect on our life of prayer, and thereby gain improvement in our prayer ministry.

1. When is the best time of day for me to commune with God? Is morning best for everyone?

2. Where is the best place for me to pray? What place will contribute to maximum concentration?

3. Is my prayer life confined to a certain time and place? If so, how can I broaden it to make it a part of everything I do?

4. Do I know what it means to enjoy God’s presence?

5. Do I pray more out of panic in response to my circumstances or out of faith in response to God’s promise?

6. How much of my praying is for myself and how much is for God? How might I change my prayers to make them less self-centered?

7. Do my prayers sound as if I am one of God’s customers rather than one of His children?

8. When I pray ‘Your will be done’ am I doing so only because it is easier than finding out what the will of God is?

9. Am I depending on myself to do what only God can do? Am I depending on God to do what He expects me to do?

10. If I could look at myself from God’s perspective, what would I see as my true needs?

11. Am I willing to give up physical comforts and convenience for spiritual well being?

12. How do I respond when God does not answer as I expect? Do I accept His answer willingly or grudgingly?

13. Do I concentrate more on what is wrong with people than on praying that they will be made right with God?

14. Am I willing to pray for wisdom and to see myself as God sees me?

15. Am I close enough to God to recognize His answer to prayer?

16. Am I willing to accept God’s silence as the sign of His answer? What might be some of the reasons why God goes about His work so quietly?

17. In what areas do I rely more on my own common sense than on prayer?

18. What might happen if I spent more time allowing God to change me and less time trying to change my circumstances?

19. Do I take prayers as seriously as Jesus does? How would I pray differently if Jesus were kneeling next to me?

20. Do I allow my relationships with others to affect my relationship with God or do I allow my relationship with God to affect my relationships with others?

We are called to be a royal priesthood. Praying is a holy occupation. We must be faithful to this ministry. Although we do not know how to pray, our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven prays for us. “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:25) And the Holy Spirit also intercedes for us. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.” (Romans 8:26-27) May God build up our church through His Son, the Holy Spirit, and our prayers!

By: Daniel To