A New Prayer
Psalm 96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, sing to the Lord, all the earth.
In the Sixties my mom decided one morning to bleach her dark hair blonde because she had always heard that blondes have more fun. My dad gave his approval so mom went to her beautician and all was well until the drive home. When she arrived my dad asked her how it went and she told him that the only man who paid any attention to her was old and toothless and ran his car into the ditch as he looked at her. Dad then asked mom what she was going to do and she emphatically told him that she was going to dye her hair back to its original color! She did!
Well, I have to hand it to my mom for trying something new! The truth is, we often get into a rut when it comes to practicing the spiritual disciplines like prayer and worship which God has given to help us mature in our walk with Christ. One study has shown that most folks forget the meaning of the lyrics of a song after we have sung the song thirty times.
Psalm 36 calls the earth, its inhabitants, and nature itself sing a new song. In Matthew Six Jesus told the church folks who were just in it for the ritual rather than the relationship with God, that He is not impressed with empty words. Jesus said, And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition, as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore, do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need, before you ask Him. Pray, then, in this way, Our Father who art in heaven. Here are some ideas. Instead of kneeling, take a prayer walk, or sing a hymn or praise song back to God as a prayer in your private worship, or stand still outside and listen to the birds sing and be thankful to God that as He knows about that very bird, He cares for you, and so much more!
Oh by the way, are you a worrier? Then you are ideal material for praying without ceasing. Invite the Holy Spirit to turn your worries into prayers and watch them evaporate into thin air!
A New Day, A New Prayer!
Pastor Louie