Do you ever wonder if your prayers achieve anything? Me too.
Sometimes it feels as if our words get no further than our lips, laps or living-rooms.
We feel dry inside.
All life and vitality drained out of us.
Going through the motions.
As if praying is a duty rather than a privilege.
Yet, if we stop and think about it, we are partnering up with God in helping to bring about His purposes on the earth.
The Creator, Sustainer and Lord of the Universe actually invites us to come to Him and share in His own heart’s desires.
To hear what moves Him and be moved to participate in bringing it to pass.
To offload all our anxieties, cares and concerns.
To intercede for those in need.
To help, support, encourage and minister to others.
To co-labour in spreading the news of His tremendous love and grace.
What could be more awesome than that?
It doesn’t rest on our words, our feelings, our dryness or liveliness.
It doesn’t rest on how weary or alert we are.
It doesn’t rest on how much time we spend, what physical position we adopt or if we speak, shout, cry or remain silent.
It rests solely on God’s willingness to work with and through His people in a powerful, life-transforming way.
And that’s a huge relief!
The poem/prayer below was written in sympathy and support for all who may feel like inadequate prayer warriors.
As you read it, please remember that our feelings about how we pray are far less important than the fact that we do pray.
Sometimes, just saying, “Help” or “Jesus” is the most powerful prayer you can utter as it reveals total dependence on Him.
Our prayers rise as incense, a fragrant offering to God.
His Father-heart longs to hear us speak to Him about any and everything.
And His greatest desire is to speak to us too.
So remember, my friend, God cares about your life – each and every aspect of it is very important to Him.
“More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of” ~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
‘Simply being’
Lord,
I am ashamed at the paucity of my prayers
so often brief, wandering or barely there
where are the sighs, groans and moans
of a powerful prayer wrestler
or the quiet resting, grace-revealing confidence
of a seasoned intercessor?
Mine slip out unnoticed, arrows weakly fired
just hitting ceiling, dying expired, or spoken by rote
in a bleary state, I feel like they’re not going anywhere
or very appealing to You at any rate
and I must confess it bothers me when clock-watching replaces
the freedom of Simply Being in Your Presence, at ease
resting, trusting, listening, heeding, instead of these
snatched moments racing against time, weariness or schedule
that scarcely please me, never mind You at all
So I come, bearing a burden heavy
to let fall, lay at Your feet
disposing of my shame and guilt
at Your forgiving mercy-seat
and take up another burden to bear
as for my sister and brother
I long to pray and share
as I learn not to be so much
concerned for my own affairs
as I know I should be
and sense the beating of Your heart
for this world’s grief and sorrow
You’re longing to impart to me
so I can join in prayer to bring about
the blessing of Your Healing and Your Peace
for today and for tomorrow
©JoyLenton2013
Poetry Joy 
Powerful and beautiful, Joy. Thank you.
Thank you, Mary! It’s an honour to see you here. I really appreciate your lovely encouraging comment.
LOVE these words…”It rests solely on God’s willingness to work with and through His people in a powerful, life-transforming way.” Joy what a JOY to read this passage today! It is a privilege to take everything to God in “prayer” Prayer shares are powerful. I believe in the power of prayer and in numbers. Thank you for these “Glory nuggets” today! 🙂
Thanks very much, Kathy! Your own thoughts have really blessed me too. It is a glorious privilege to pray together as well as on our own. 🙂
Dear sweet Joy
What a heart wrenching poem about something we all struggle with at times. I have learned over the years that God is our Pappa and He is not interested in our fancy words. When we talk to Him with a sincere, childlike heart, we are praying great prayers. Even when we don’t know how or what to pray for, the Holy Spirit prays with words that cannot be uttered!
Blessings XX
Mia
Dear Mia, I’m so pleased this resonated with you! Yes, we do all struggle with these feelings at times and I felt I was far from alone in my thoughts. I love what you say here, “When we talk to Him with a sincere, childlike heart, we are praying great prayers”. Oh yes! And when we fail to find words to express ourselves with, Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf “with words that cannot be uttered”. However we pray, God hears, receives and responds. I do hope and pray you are feeling stronger by the day. Blessings, my friend. Xx
Joy, your poem has pegged it exactly! It IS the way I so often feel during or after prayer. I loved the poem, but try as I might, could not in good conscience clip a single phrase from it to say, “This was my favorite part.” This morning, I could only enjoy it in its entirety, and it seemed wrong, somehow, to try to break it at any point. It seems to flow throughout, unbroken, unsegmented, and it describes exactly how I feel so often about prayer! I think we are most comfortable with things we feel competent in, think we do well in, and for me, prayer is a weak area. I think I’m in good company, though. Jesus’ disciples, who thought they knew as much about prayer as anyone, heard Jesus pray, and realized they didn’t know much, and said. “Lord, teach US to pray.” I took comfort this morning from your writer’s note about the effectiveness of prayer, when you said, “ It doesn’t rest on how much time we spend, what physical position we adopt or if we speak, shout, cry or remain silent. It rests solely on God’s willingness to work with and through His people in a powerful, life-transforming way.And that’s a huge relief!
Neil, I am greatly blessed by your open response. To know that the words God has gifted me with have spoken so clearly to you is a huge encouragement! As I shared this poem/prayer I strongly sensed I was far from alone with these thoughts. Your reply here has convinced me it was a good one to share and will, hopefully, bring a degree of recognition and relief to other hearts. Thank you very much for letting me know how this affected you. Blessings.
Thank you, Joy, for sharing your heart. I love your gentle reminder that prayer rests on God’s willingness. Powerful reminder today. Deeply grateful!
Thank you, Sharon! I really appreciate you stopping by to share your thoughts. Blessings 🙂