A Newsletter of Biblically Balanced Ministries, Inc.
Praying With
Balance (August 1998)
I remember as a young pastor desiring to do away with the traditional and often ritualistic “pastoral prayer” in worship services. The reasoning was that a worship service is about God not us. It could also be reasoned that if I prayed for one person and forgot someone else people would be offended. Further it could be said that Prayer Meeting was already like an “organ recital” (Aunt Sue’s heart and brother Jim’s broken leg). The result of such reasoning is that by example we teach an unbalanced pattern of prayer.
No one can argue against the importance of keeping God at the center of our
worship. Jesus gave the example to follow in Matthew 6, often called the “Lord’s Prayer,” but is better called the “Disciples Prayer.” The example in this prayer is one of balance; a balance between expressing worship to God and petitioning for our needs. One could argue that this is an example of personal prayer not public prayer. However, examining the prayers of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament, a similar balance is demonstrated in almost every prayer.
The “Disciples Prayer” begins where all prayers should begin by focusing on God:
Our Father who art in heaven,
Hallowed be Thy name,
Thy Kingdom come,
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven
Our joy is that we come before the Lord of Lords and King of Kings; not simply as subjects, but as children before “Our Father.” Out of this special relationship flows our desire for His glory and kingdom. Balance begins in prayer and life when we
“seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness.”
It has been said that some people are
“so heavenly minded they are no earthly good.” While prayer certainly should lift us up to our heavenly Father, it also should enable us to face life on earth. When our desire is to do His will on earth then we will also be aware of our dependency on Him for our earthly provisions. Further, the “Disciples Prayer” directs us not only toward relationship with our heavenly Father but to our relationships with people on earth. Prayer is a time to lift us into heavenly places but it also is a time to admit our earthly needs.
The prayer closes with the reminder that our desire should be to live holy lives manifesting the presence of His kingdom. Prayer should not simply be a “religious” experience lifting us into the heavens. Prayer should also be a time of contemplating God’s presence and His kingdom on earth. Let us keep the balance in prayer lifting up our focus on the Lord and remembering His earthly provisions, plan and presence.
by Gary R. Becker, President
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