Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray the Lord my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray the Lord, my soul to take.
Childhood memories are few and far between for this grey-haired author. We never lived near relatives. Our family moved frequently until I was about seven or eight, thus eliminating ancient neighborhood, unforgettable events and experiences. In addition, neither of my parents was an historian. Actually, neither of my parents, especially my father, talked a great deal. Family memories were just not a part of our conversation.
One bit of history, though, that does remain in my brain, was a prayer we heard or read frequently. Memory does not enlighten me, however, if we heard it as a nightly prayer, or if the ‘Now I lay me down to sleep’ four liner was just recited many places through the years. I’m certain, as a four or five-year old, I did not fully appreciate the depth of the meaning, but certainly a pattern of regular prayer was embedded in my brain.
Take a moment and re-read the four lines. As you read the words, identify several serious concepts included. As we prepare for rest from the days labors is one perfect time to chat with the Father. Requesting the Lord to look over your soul is certainly an important request. Remembering that the Lord is ultimately in control of the end of our tour of duty here on planet earth should never slip from our consciousness. Any follower of the Lord should continually pray that you will be prepared to join His army when you inhale your final breath. These are essentials, but . . . the breadth of the content needs to expand.
Words repeated over and over have the danger of becoming so automatic that our heart and mind are disconnected. We need to ‘wake up’ the brain, attempting to avoid mechanical, repeated phrases, void of our sincere and current needs and concerns for ourselves and for others. Saying grace, for example, prior to gulping down our liver and onions, may become similar to attempting to having a conversation with a teen-ager who is simultaneously texting his friend. Words may proceed out of his/her mouth but little, if any, thought precedes the gush of sounds you hear. Our prayers are real conversation with God. Turn the brain on when you speak to Him.
Occasionally public prayers, or even your own, become boring. Perhaps they are so generic, with just common phrases repeated, that nothing personal or specific comes rushing out for the Lord to hear.
For example, have you ever said/heard, ‘Bless everyone’, or ‘Please Lord, forgive me for my goof-ups.’ It’s good to acknowledge our errors, but just as with an erring child, you want specifics. It is too easy to say, ‘Lord, I sinned,’ but fail to be specific and acknowledge what unkind, thoughtless, cruel, or rebellious action you participated in that day. God, I believe, wants us to be more thoughtful and actually share with Him our specific doubts, detailed concerns about the health of a loved one, or five situations in your life that day for which you want to thank the Lord.
Many times my prayers probably become boring or repetitive. Pray seriously and with power. Pause, if necessary, to collect your thoughts. Acknowledge pain and concern both in words, but also through the tone of your voice. We are not wind-up toys, that speak mechanical phrases, in a rather monotone voice. We are humans, the children of God, who desires serious and grateful hearts and minds when we speak to Him.
Public prayer is essential, but private prayer, often best when in a quiet spot, is your best way to be very specific in your conversation. Some people even suggest a bit of prep prior to your serious moments of God talk. Jot down key blessings and needs, including the specific people for whom you plan to bring to the throne of God that day.
Remember, perhaps, when your child approached you, hand out, requesting a twenty-dollar bill? What was the first thing you said? “What do you plan to do with the twenty bucks?” Or, your spouse, child, or friend pops in the door, anger streaming from his body, and mumbling, ‘I had a terrible day. I am ready to punch out so-and-so’s nose.’ You immediately asked for details. You want more than a universal, catch-all phrase.
Well, so does God want specifics. Phrases like, ‘Take care of everyone’. Well, Lord, maybe not Janice, my neighbor.’ Her dog barks at least thirteen and a half minutes, seven times a day. Or, ‘Please, God, help my son at college’. What kind of help does the kid need? Is it behavior changes at parties, nose to the grindstone with the text books, or maybe remembering to call his darling parents at least once a month, so they can remind him to wash his sheets and jammies? Specificity brings a closer relationship with our Father. Lack of details also make it more difficult to acknowledge when the Lord demonstrated his power and concern for you.
One last suggestion, designed to help wake up our prayer life, may works for some. Write your prayer out, or at least jot down phrases. Refer to them as you send your verbal ‘email’ to the Lord. Focus and specificity will improve. Others find reading passages of scripture, but inserting prayer time, as you read. Your prayers may be enhanced as you read certain phrases or ideas from God’s talk back to you.
Yes, maybe it is the Lord’s prayer that becomes the best model for your young children, but swiftly help each wake up and have ‘talk time’ of their own with the King of Kings, who loves each of His children, even when we forget to ‘write home.’
“Rejoice always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
(1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Prayer Changes Things
Wake Up Your Prayer Life
Kathryn Ransom 