by Kala Loptien

How We Pray

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“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 6:9-10 English Standard Version

Have you ever found yourself standing in the middle of God’s grand creation with a sudden sense of serenity and reverence?

Most recently, we did a snow hike and found ourselves surrounded by sky-scraping trees, in the middle of a snow-covered, sun-drenched forest. It was breathtaking. I felt a calm and a quiet. For the most part, the only sounds were our spikes crunching into the snow and ice. It was a perfect time to think, pray and inhale His goodness.

It’s no coincidence that we feel a closeness to God when we’re in the middle of all HE created. It makes sense that we would find peace and comfort. In those moments, I’m in awe of my Maker. But I also recognize I tend to be a “me-first” pray-er. “Please do this for that person. Please help me with my struggle.” I realize that oftentimes my prayers are heavy on the supplication/requests and very lean when it comes to worship and adoration.

I don’t know about you, but it always helps me to be reminded of the ACTS prayer format: Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication. Now, I know there are not requirements or specific ways we should pray. But, when I think about how Jesus taught us, we see that praise and adoration for God should certainly be the first words we utter. As we’ve heard in other devotions and Sunday messages, Lent is a time of preparation. We are preparing our hearts for what’s ahead, with our eyes fixed on Jesus. Following adoration, our prayers should reflect a repentant heart (the confession part of the prayer); and then a genuinely grateful heart, changed by grace.

Lord, even our prayers are imperfect. Even so, you hear them and you know our hearts. May we be quick to remember to put You first in all we do. After all, you are the beginning and the end. Alpha and Omega. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado