PERSONAL DAILY PRAYER

Prayer is our communication with God. I put it like this in a sermon a couple of weeks ago: “Prayer is a bit like the use of radio in battle. The shambles of Arnhem could have been turned round if the Commander could have got in touch with the various troops on the Bridge and in the surrounding area. The radios were all useless. With no communications the troops had no idea of the Commander’s directions, and the Commander could not help them if they couldn’t speak to him. Christ is our Commander and he needs to be in touch with us and we with him. Our communication should be constant. Our tendency is so often to pray only in the great crises of life; but it is from regular prayer that the Christian will find daily strength.” 

I am often asked what I mean by 'daily prayer'. The church has given us the services of Morning and Evening Prayer as a staple diet. If you go into a monastic order you promise to adhere to the Rule of Life. It is a rule of living ordered round prayer, work and rest. Most of us are not actually called to that way of life. But we can profit from the example of a 'rule of life'. 

A personal rule is entirely your own. Many people already have a personal rule and don't even know it. Coming to church on Sundays and holy days is a rule. Daily prayer is a rule. Saying grace at meals is a rule. A rule is simply a way of bringing God into your life in a regular way. It is something to help you get through the business of living, linked firmly with God. Like a walking staff, it should be strong enough to support you when you are down, and not too heavy to carry. 

Your own rule regulates your life the way you want it to. It should be something you yearn to do. It is a tool for growth, not a pair of iron trousers. If you want to think about adding daily prayer into your rule, to help you hear God and grow towards him, these little books may help. There is an order for every day of the week. It has prayers, readings and psalms for you to chew over as you go through the day. It takes about 15 minutes to “say the daily office” (jargon for using this form of daily prayer). 

So set the alarm 15 minutes early. Find a quiet place to sit, a special place, and read the little service day by day. After a while it will not seem strange, and you may want to move on to different patters. Judy and I can help point out books which will be helpful. 

Pray as if everything depends on God: then act as if it all depends on you. 

Peter Lear                                                       Upper Coquetdale