Tuesday, 18 March

Give ear to my words, O Lord; give heed to my sighing.

Listen to the sound of my cry, my King and my God, for to you I pray. Psalm 5:1-2

In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.

Hebrews 5:7

One of my church members is fervent, and determined, in her prayer life.  She recommitted her life to the Lord whilst in immigration detention (she’d been brought up a Christian in Uganda but was rather nominal) and ever since she’s been eager in her prayers.  She often fasts as well as prays and has been committed to praying for a group of friends she made whilst in detention – all are now released and my parishioner attributes this, in part, to her prayers.  The Psalmist and the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews are eager to inspire their readers to give themselves wholeheartedly in prayer – yet this doesn’t sound very British!  We’re not really prone, as a people, to cry, shout and sigh in prayer.  We’d be embarrassed and, in most of our churches, if we cried, shouted or sighed too much someone would come and either ask if we were ok or ask us to stop! Yet there is a balance between being enthusiastic, committed and wholehearted in prayer and in drawing attention to ourselves.  Let’s use this period of Lent to recommit ourselves to a life of prayer and let’s make our prayers heartfelt.

Lord, you hear the prayers and longings of our heart,

You know our deepest yearnings,

You know the things we worry about.

Help us to express our feelings to you,

Help us to be wholehearted in our prayer life.

Amen.

Andy Braunston

Metropolitan Church