Obstacles to Prayer, Part 1
I’m currently participating in an online reading group that is
reading Yancey’s new book on prayer. I, like many people, would have
to confess that I do not have the prayer life that I should. I’ve
evaluated the difficulty I’ve had with prayer over the years, with much
guilt in the process, and have found several characteristics that I
think contribute to the challenge prayer presents to me. In the next few days, I’d like to process through some of them here.
- I am a very mechanical person.
I
like to use the word mechanical as though I create things or improve
them or even that I know my way around the engine of a car. Of course,
all of these would be false (although I do pretend to know my way around an engine). I evaluate circumstances from a data
oriented point of view. Being a product of the American education system that
is steeped in modernism, I have learned full well the value of the
scientific method and of isolating variables. If I can measure it, it
is valid for the equation. If I can’t, it is paranormal and therefore
beyond use.
This has changed somewhat within the last several
years as I have become more aware of the non-tangible in life, but for
me it was a big jump between being aware of the seen and the unseen.
I read Paul’s statement in Acts 17:27
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.
…and
I understand full well what is going on between the lines. God is
there, but the obligation for seeking is on me. When I am as geared to
the physical world and to the measurable as I am, reaching out into the
spiritual realm is somewhat tough.
That’s not true. It is very tough. And it makes me feel like I’m somehow inferior to those who reach out into this realm with no difficulty at all. My wife has an inspiring prayer life. It seems to come second nature to her. It isn’t that I don’t have faith (see part 3 on Friday), I have full confidence in God and His ability to work in my life. What doesn’t come easily is the idea of reaching out and finding God as though he were something to be grasped. That part is significantly more challenging for me.
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Brad Palmore
Is this a “guy” thing? I was talking about this very thing with a close friend of mine (also an elder at our church) and he says he thinks it is one of the main differences betwenn how men and women view prayer. I’ve yet to meet a woman who has this particular struggle in her prayer life. I’ve met many men who do.
great thoughts, unfortunately, I can relate, I love organizing and categorizing data.
looking forward to the rest, in a self-loathing kind of way
(i couldn’t remember which word meant “one who enjoys pain” (either a sadist or a masochist) so I went in a different direction, also to avoid any awkward sexual connotations
I think my own difficulty with prayer stems from my “faith experience.” As we’ve talked about previously, Brad, though I am a believer I have very rarely, if ever, seen that supernatural action that strengthens so many people’s faith. Like I said many times during that conversation, :I got nothin’.”
I am also a very rational, logical thinking person. (I said “thinking” as I’m sure Kim will say I’m rarely rational or logical!) It is difficult for me to word private prayers that “feel” right. That’s a bit of dissonance for me as I have no problem with wording public prayers.
Great thoughts on your part and I look forward to reading the rest of the series.
We’re going to have change your blog rating to NC-17. I can identify to the mechanical viewpoint. Our heritage is responsible for the disconnect between the experience in and exercise of prayer. We might have been a whole different movement with more of Stone and less of Campbell.
Forgive me for weighing in so late on this. I think, in relation to the men/women difference, that when applying this to our prayer lives, it could have an impact. Basically, women would tend to be more emotional and sensitive and therefore maybe able to do that reaching out to an unseen God in a very real way. However, many men are sensitive, as well, and I’m not sure I believe it’s a gender issue. Obviously, I’m female and a highly emotional one at that. But I have some of the same difficulties in my prayer life that I see reflected in the comments by you guys.
That is an interesting idea and definitely fits the “norms” of the differences between men and women. Surely a lady will pass by this blog and be able to share her opinion on this matter.
I’m glad you avoided all the awkward sexual connotations by not mentioning awkward sexual connotations.
bnicklaus: i couldn’t remember which word meant “one who enjoys pain†(either a sadist or a masochist)
Actually they both enjoy pain. A masochist enjoys his own pain and a sadist enjoys yours!
Why do you know this?
Sorry, aren’t we trying to avoid any ASC? (awkward sexual connotations)
I know that I have an easier time addressing a large group rather than a smaller one at times because of the intimacy levels involved. “Forgive us our sins” is much easier than listing them person by person in front of (literally) God and everybody. It is easier for me to pray at the dinner table for “the blessings of the day” than it is to sit in private with God and recognize what He’s done for me in detail. Perhaps the ability to keep thing spiritually surface level makes it easier for group prayer.
I think bnicklaus scared all the potential women comment makers off by turning this into a locker room discussion. Maybe we’ll never know what women think about the issue…
I’m not sure how you can use the word “might” in that comment. Of course we would be a different movement. The real trouble is determining whether we would have been a better movement or not. The stoners have their share of problems as well.
Just this morning my wife and I were discussing this. She doesn’t understand why it doesn’t come easy I don’t understand how it does. Strange.