Concerning the Matter of Prayer...and Foundations and Issues of Worship.

Among the many things I have learned this semester in Foundations and Issues of Worship, one of the greatest is concerning the matter of prayer. I've always desired a more consistent and meaningful prayer life. My grandfather told me once that it's something you will spend the rest of your life making efforts to improve. In all honesty, I never fully understood what prayer is and how to pray until the last year, but it was Jeremiah Burrough's chapter on prayer that God used to kindle a greater desire and motivation to improve.

At the beginning of the chapter, Burroughs declared that we must live in continual dependence on God and pray continually. "That soul that every day and hour is sensible of the infinite dependence it has upon God for its present and eternal estate will be fit for prayer." I believe one of the greatest struggles of living in a prosperous culture like ours is that we don't need to depend on God for everything - or at least we don't think we need to. The problem I've found myself facing is that I will go through an entire day without ever entertaining thoughts of God's Word and how it should change the way I think and live. Since my time in this chapter, I've made changes in my schedule to accomodate Scripture meditation and prayer throughout the day. I hope to continue growing in a continual dependence on God.

At a later point in the chapter, Burroughs says, "Take this one note with you: all those dreadful, vile, unclean, covetous thoughts of yours in prayer have been to God as if you had spoken them in words." He stated that a godly man's prayer life is like a spaniel that "is running from his master, yet, if he gives him a call, he is able to call the spaniel to him immediately." I am a distracted prayer. Rare is the time that I will be fully focused in my personal prayers or even the public prayers of others. Vain thoughts and lusts pervade my mind constantly. Concerning this, I have made changes in the my understanding of prayer which has changed the disposition of my heart during prayer times. Along with this I simply begin my prayers by asking for God's help.

God has used this class to change me as a person and change the way I understand corporate worship. I'm thankful for Doc, for great authors and teachers, for Puritans, and for the Bible. Although God is continuing to grow my prayer life, I have learned many other things as well. Thank you, Doc, for your willingness to teach what God has taught you and introduce us to great men of the faith.