The other day, I had a truly enlightening conversation with my four-year-old son, Jacob. It’s always fascinating to witness the world through his young eyes, and his words often carry unexpected wisdom. I was on my exercise bike in our bedroom, attempting my sporadic workout routine, when Jacob walked in, toy airplane in hand. It was a simple, dollar-store plane, the kind where you attach the wings to make it soar. But Jacob, in his four-year-old wisdom, had removed them.
“Dad,” he announced, “look at my plane. It’s naked!” – his term for wingless.
He then promptly tried to launch the plane as if it were ready for takeoff. It, predictably, plummeted to the ground.
“Yeah, Jake,” I responded, “it has no wings. It can’t fly.”
“Yup,” he stated matter-of-factly, “you can’t fly with no wings!”
Sometimes, the most profound truths come from the simplest of mouths. Jacob’s innocent observation, “you can’t fly with no wings,” resonated deeply within me. A plane without wings is grounded. It’s incapable of fulfilling its purpose. Spiritually speaking, I realized, I often try to navigate life in the same way – attempting to take flight without my own spiritual “wings.”
This realization struck me hard: my prayer life had become alarmingly inconsistent. I was neglecting to seek God first, to truly rely on Him in the daily details of my life. This wasn’t just a minor oversight; it was a fundamental issue. I felt a strong desire to make a change, to dedicate this year to cultivating a more vibrant and consistent prayer life. Less impulsive reactions, more intentional seeking of God’s guidance – that became my goal. Prayer, I understood, is my lifeline to heaven, and neglecting it was leading to my own spiritual downfall. Perhaps you can relate to this struggle.
Over the coming weeks, I want to delve into a series called “Prayers Of the Bible.” The Bible, after all, is a comprehensive guide for life, offering invaluable insights into prayer. Within its pages, we find examples of individuals who prayed, their prayers recorded for us to learn from. These scriptural prayers can be powerful tools in deepening our own connection with the Lord. Let’s consider some foundational ideas about prayer, serving as a springboard for these upcoming discussions.
The Wingless Plane: A Metaphor for Life Without Prayer
Just like Jacob’s toy plane couldn’t defy gravity without wings, our spiritual lives struggle to ascend without prayer. Prayer acts as our spiritual wings, providing the lift, direction, and stability we need to navigate life’s journey. Without this essential element, we remain grounded, unable to reach our full potential in God or experience the heights of spiritual connection He desires for us. This simple analogy highlights a profound truth: prayer isn’t optional; it’s fundamental to a thriving spiritual life.
Why Prayer is Your Spiritual Wings
1. Prayer: An Ongoing Conversation, Not a One-Time Event
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Often, we turn to prayer when faced with a crisis, a desperate plea to heaven in times of trouble. But just as quickly as we seek intervention, we often cease praying once the immediate issue seems resolved. Days, weeks, months, even years can pass before we genuinely engage with God again. However, we weren’t designed for such sporadic communication with our Savior. No relationship can flourish with such infrequent interaction. God desires a prayer life that is continuous, a constant conversation.
The Apostle Paul’s call to “pray without ceasing” in 1 Thessalonians might seem overwhelming, even impossible at first glance. But I believe his intention is to encourage us to cultivate a lifestyle of prayer, making it a recurring and natural part of our day. It’s not about a 24/7 monologue, but about adopting a 24/7 mindset of God’s constant presence and accessibility. In this state of awareness, we bring every concern, every joy, every moment to Him. We maintain an attitude of worship and submission. We consciously develop our minds to pursue sanctification and holiness, a journey that relies on the Holy Spirit’s continuous guidance. Prayer, in this sense, becomes the very atmosphere in which we live and breathe spiritually.
2. Prayer: Your First Response, Not a Last Resort
“We tend to use prayer as a last resort, but God wants it to be our first line of defense. We pray when there’s nothing else we can do, but God wants us to pray before we do anything at all.” – Oswald Chambers
This is where I personally struggle, and I confess, a significant part of the challenge is my ingrained “fix-it” mentality. The “I’m a guy, I can handle this” attitude has led to countless heartaches and regrets, paths I wish I could have avoided. I’m learning, often the hard way, that even when I think I have a solution, that impulse must take a backseat to seeking the Lord in prayer first.
This requires a two-fold approach. Firstly, I must consciously lay down my pride. God’s understanding of any situation is infinitely greater than mine. Secondly, it necessitates patience. My initial impulse to solve a problem might seem brilliant, sound perfect in my own head. Regardless, I must wait on the Lord, seeking His direction before acting. Prayer should never be relegated to the back burner, the last option we consider. Imagine how often the outcome would be better, or the journey smoother, if we invited God into our plans from the outset. He knows best, and He knows us intimately, far better than we know ourselves.
3. Prayer: Transforming You, Not Just Your Circumstances
When we approach God in prayer, we often come with a mental list of requests, expectations for how we want our day to unfold, or how we desire a situation to resolve. While God welcomes us to bring all our concerns and desires to Him, His ultimate aim in prayer is often deeper than simply fulfilling our requests. He is working on us in the process, shaping us, and revealing Himself more fully.
Consider these scenarios:
A serious health diagnosis doesn’t improve despite fervent prayers for healing. Instead of the desired outcome, God draws you closer to Himself, fostering deeper trust in His sovereignty and goodness, even in the face of suffering. He reveals that even in the shadow of death, He remains good.
Your career path takes unexpected turns, diverging from your aspirations. God may be intentionally guiding you down a different path, one aligned with His perfect plan for your life. The detours and roadblocks are not failures, but purposeful steps in His divine design.
The deep longing for a child is met with continued barrenness and heartache. In this intensely painful situation, God demonstrates His ultimate control and reminds you of His unwavering presence. He acknowledges your desire to be a parent – He created that very desire within you – but He may have a different, yet equally good and perfect, way for that desire to be fulfilled.
In every prayer, we approach God with preconceived notions of how He should answer, with a desired outcome in mind. However, time and again, I’ve witnessed God answer prayers in ways I least expected. Sometimes, His answers were far better than my original requests. Other times, they seemed initially worse, causing confusion and pain. Yet, in every instance, I was compelled to trust Him more completely, to draw closer to His heart. And I’ve come to realize the profound truth illustrated by the initial analogy: without wings – without prayer, without dependence on Him – we simply cannot truly fly.
“Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” 1 Peter 5:7
I understand that readers come from diverse places in their spiritual journey. Many are seeking God’s intervention in specific situations, perhaps sending up “Hail Mary” prayers in moments of desperation. While God hears and responds to all sincere prayers, I believe He calls us to something more – a deeper, more consistent engagement with Him. He desires a prayer life that permeates every aspect of our day, an ongoing dialogue that shapes our thoughts, actions, and very being. Prayer is indispensable, vital for navigating the complexities of life and thriving in these times. I challenge you, and myself, to cultivate a deeper, more consistent prayer life.
Let’s stop trying to fly the plane without wings. I’m excited to embark on this journey of deeper prayer with you.
Let’s connect:
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Other blogs for further reading:
Rooted In Self-Control (The Fruit Series)
No Plan B
Redeeming Work
