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Here I Kneel, Learn to Pray Like a Reformer (Part 1)
Posted : 26 Oct, 2010 09:13 AM
Martin Luther, the instigator of the Protestant Reformation, is known for his famous dictum, �Here I stand.� However, before Luther could stand before the papists in Worms, he needed to kneel before his father in Heaven. And though he is known for his work as a Reformer, it was Luther who declared that the business of the Christian is prayer. And for Luther, business was good.
So respected were his prayers that a good friend, Peter the Barber, asked Luther to teach him how to pray. Luther responded with a short instructional booklet called, A Simple way to Pray, in which he told his friend �I will tell you as best I can what I do personally when I pray�. Thus, Luther has provided instructions for praying like a Reformer. And over the next couple of days, it is my aim to summarize for you Luther�s instructions on prayer, that you too may pray like a Reformer.
First, observe several general considerations about prayer.
1. Pray privately
There is certainly time and place for public prayers, but here Luther discusses finding a private place to pray quietly.
2. Pray first and last
Luther urges prayer first thing in the morning and last thing at night. �It is a good thing to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night.�
3. Pray twice
We pray both in our prayers and in our work. Quoting Jerome, he says, "�He who works faithfully prays twice.� This can be said because a believer fears and honors God in his work�Faith transforms work into prayer.� Interestingly, Luther also notes �On the other hand it is also true that the work of an unbeliever is outright cursing and
so he who works faithlessly curses twice�.
4. Pray habitually
�We must be careful not to break the habit of true prayer and imagine other works to be necessary which, after all, are nothing of the kind. Thus at the end we become lax and lazy, cool and listless toward prayer. The devil who besets us is not lazy or careless, and our flesh is too ready and eager to sin and is disinclined to the spirit of prayer.�
5. Pray eagerly
We do not want half-hearted or insincere prayers. Luther says, �It is of great importance that the heart be made ready and eager for prayer.� He then asks, �What else is it but tempting God when your mouth babbles and the mind wanders to other thoughts?
6. Pray attentively
�A good and attentive barber keeps his thoughts, attention, and eyes on the razor and hair and does not forget how far he has gotten with his shaving or cutting. If he wants to engage in too much conversation or let his mind wander or look somewhere else he is likely to cut his customer's mouth, nose, or even his throat. Thus if anything is to be done well, it requires the full attention of all one's senses and members, �He who thinks of many things, thinks of nothing and does nothing right.� How much more does prayer call for concentration and singleness of heart if it is to be a good prayer!� [Teachers take note of Luther's consideration and knowledge of his audience, in this case, Peter the Barber]
7. Pray briefly, frequently and fervently
Luther cautions, �Take care � not to undertake �so much [at once] that one becomes weary in spirit. A good prayer should not be lengthy or drawn out, but frequent and ardent�.
8. Pray confidently
�Mark this�, says Luther, �You must always speak the Amen firmly. Never doubt that
God in his mercy will surely hear you... Do not leave your prayer without having said or thought, �Very well, God has heard my prayer; this I know as a certainty and a truth.� That is what Amen means�.
May God grant you a fruitful time in prayer today.
-Brainiac
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