They used to call it “deportment” on the report card. Then they changed it to “conduct.” It referred to how I was behaving at school. I usually got A’s, but my teacher would often write in the comment section: “David talks too much in class.”
I visited when I should have been listening. I couldn’t help it. What I had to tell my neighbor was much more important than what was being taught, right?
When I was in fourth grade, I got my report card on my birthday, opened it up and had a “C” in conduct, only because of my talking. I dreaded taking it home and showing it to my parents. They weren’t happy, but they didn’t have the heart to punish me on my birthday. I dodged a bullet.
Now I get to talk vocationally, every Sunday delivering sermons and during the week visiting with people. I enjoy it tremendously, and do pretty well with one exception. I struggle with prayer. Do you?
Don’t get me wrong. I pray, but sometimes I struggle. This straining doesn’t make sense because, in its simplest meaning, prayer is having a conversation with our Heavenly Father, sharing our heart with Him and listening for His response. Prayer is acknowledging the constant presence of God in our lives and communing with Him. So why do we struggle?
Sometimes, we struggle because we allow our minds to wander. Prayer is hard work, and takes discipline. A prayer journal helps, but journaling also takes discipline. Being unhurried helps, but it takes time to pray thoroughly and we’re too busy. We should be too busy not to pray.
Maybe we struggle because we don’t think God answers our prayer. We ask for something that is important to us and either we don’t get it or God gives us something different. So we feel our prayers failed.
Or, maybe we struggle because the only time we talk to God is when we do need something.
Before Ken Hemphill took the position of president of SWBTS, he spent several days each week leading church growth conferences around the country. He hated being away from his family; his girls were young, so, feeling guilty, he’d bring home a little gift each week.
Every week, as soon as his car pulled into the driveway, the girls would run from the house and greet their dad with “Hi, Daddy, what did you bring me?” Then they’d stick their hands out, anxiously waiting for their gifts.
After one particularly hard trip, after being greeted with the same welcome home, Hemphill decided it was time to explain how hard it was to be apart from them and how tired he was when he came home. He said it would really mean a lot if they would be simply glad to have Daddy home, to have him, not just a gift.
The next week, he returned home after being out of town again, and, as usual, the girls ran to meet him in the driveway.
Only this time, the younger daughter leaped into his arms, gave him a big hug, and said in the sweetest voice, “I love you Daddy, I’m so glad you’re home.”
Hemphill’s heart melted. Then with her next breath, she asked, “Now, what did you bring me?”
How often are our prayers like that? “Father, what can you give me? What can you do for me?”
Maybe we don’t understand the purpose of prayer. Prayer is about spending time with God who loves us and wants a growing relationship with us. Prayer is about getting to know God more deeply and joining Him in advancing His purposes on earth. Prayer is not just about us. It’s about the bigger picture of God’s kingdom purposes.
Thankfully, God understands that we’re not perfect and that we’re still growing in our practice of prayer. So He gives us a Helper.
Romans 8:26 reads, “Likewise, the Spirit also helps us in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself makes intercession for us … ”
We have a Helper who prays for us and makes our prayers stronger. God knows we need it. At least I do.
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[Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor of McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville, GA. The church family gathers at 352 McDonough Road and invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. Like them on Facebook and visit them at www.mcdonoughroad.org.]
