The insurance company Liberty Mutual includes a catchy jingle at the end of its commercials: “Only pay for what you need!” Unlike life or auto insurance, God has a different tagline for prayer. God wants us to pray for what we need and, as we do, to change our perspective in the process. Lent allows us to stretch our prayer muscles for what we need collectively in six ways.
Choose a private location. The location and attitude of prayer affect how the believer seeks God’s will (Matthew 6:5-15). Prayer should be handled in a secret place. Daniel’s prayer in Daniel 9 is one such example. Knowing that God prefers us to go into our rooms, close the door, and pray privately, Daniel does just that. He acknowledges God’s merciful character and confesses sin corporately on behalf of the people. He recognizes our rebellion and God’s justice. He places the people in the hands of a compassionate and forgiving God. Private prayer shifts our viewpoint.
Begin from God’s perspective. Prayer usually begins from a list we’ve compiled to present to God. Lent invites us to imagine the world from God’s point of view.The language of prayer should reflect a desire for God to get what God wants. As A. J. Conyers said, “The Lord’s prayer does not contain the phrase, ‘Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done for my life.’” Prayer creates dependence on God for direction and yields to God’s wishes. In that context, this prayer suggests that if we treat God as the king and desire for him to save others, the first question we ask in prayer is, “Father, what do you want me to ask for?” We ask God what to say. Instead of treating God as a heavenly Santa Claus, we see God as a loving parent.
Think about the first time you bought a birthday present for your parents with your own money. As a child, you may have purchased something for your mother that you wanted to have. But as you grew, eventually, you went to your father and asked, “What do you think Mom would want for her birthday?” You know the gift works better if the recipient needs it. In the same way, ask yourself, what does God want from me?
For example, in Thornton Wilder’s play Our Town, the character Jane receives a letter addressed to her farm, town, country, state, the United States of America, the Continent of North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Earth, the Solar System, the Universe; the Mind of God.”[1] Wilder suggests that our perspective on life often begins with our point of view. But what if we thought about life, specifically prayer, from God’s point of view? What does he see, and what are his priorities?
Check your attitude. That means we need to check our attitude and motives. In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and publican, he reminds us that motives matter—not your perceived successful record. The publican is a known extortioner, the Roman government’s tax or toll collector. Their operation is entirely built on bribes, favors, and patronage. He’s contracted to pay the Roman government an annual fee to be a tax collector. Then, through an ancient version of “dynamic pricing” or “price gouging,” he can charge people whatever he wants. And he did. Just look at the amount of money Zaccheus repaid; these guys were wealthy magnates. This publican approaches the temple area not with pride but brokenness. He begs for mercy; he expresses remorse and contrition as he beats his breast.
In this way, the publican is a model pray-er. Humility is more important than perceived righteousness. There is no righteousness without brokenness. We stop comparing ourselves with others and express gratitude for God’s mercy.
Widen your angle. That means we need to expand our field of vision. Think about your prayer conversations like an iPhone camera. Instead of zooming into take a selfie, zoom out beyond the lens to see the needs of the world around you. God is the one who provided for my needs and for everyone’s needs—not just mine. Zoom out to focus on what we need collectively. According to the Lord’s prayer, people need four things from God. Disciples are hungry and need provision; we’ve borrowed too much and need to be released from debts; we’ve gone over the line and need forgiveness; we face trials and tests and need deliverance.
Keep it Short and Simple. Decide not to get into a big show or performance about prayer. We don’t need public proclamations, resolutions, social media posts, or scripts. Short, simple statements are acceptable. Improvisation will work. We don’t need to babble on like the worshipers of Baal all day and night, thinking that God is asleep (Matthew 6:1-13).
Filter Requests through the Golden Rule. Since God already knows what we need, he invites us to discuss the abovementioned four needs. We’re not praying for private gain. We’re praying in private for others’ needs to be met so that they will recognize and see that God is the one who provided. Jesus gives us a filter for our prayer through the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12). We ask, “God, what would you want me to ask for so that my life will be a reflection of the Golden Rule? God, will you provide for everyone’s hunger, release us from debt, grant forgiveness where we have gone over the line, and help us avoid temptation in the same way you are doing for me and so that I can do the same for others?”
Let me share one example from a women’s prayer retreat. In Eastern Europe, women had gathered for a day of Retreat. At lunchtime, an older woman came up with a small piece of pie for an English-speaking interpreter. She looked at the speaker and said, “If I had only known YOU would be here, I would have saved a piece for you.” The speaker thanked her, and the interpreter explained her story. She was a widow and received a pension of 20 euros/month. On the first Sunday of the month, she took her tithe of two dollars to her church. She took another 2 euros to make small pies to take to the shut-ins in her neighborhood, prayed, gave them the gospel, and brought many into the fold.
As she walked away, a person noticed how worn out her shoes were. A few minutes later someone from the group called out to her and gave her 20 euros to buy a pair of shoes. She looked baffled as she took it with both her hands, held them up and prayed:
“Lord, I did not ask you for new shoes, but you gave this to me. Help me to wear out the new shoes in service to you. I will be ashamed to face you with shoes that are not worn out for you. Amen.” That’s someone rewarded for a merciful life.
This season, Jesus wants to shape our character by teaching us how to see prayer differently. Prayer is not a private express lane but about aligning our lives with God’s wants. When we want what God wants for each other, we pray for God’s exact needs for our lives.
[1] Suggested by Philip Yancey, Prayer, 23.
Photo by Patrick Fore on Unsplash