Real prayer
Over the last week I've been very inspired as I have read a book called I Beg to Differ: Ministry Amid the Tear Gas, which is really the autobiography of Peter Storey, one of our now retired Methodist ministers.
Many of you will know his name because in the 70s and 80s he was a very well-known figure in this country. He wrote for our newspapers quite a lot and he's really quite a radical. He stood up in the struggle against apartheid and not only preached against it in a powerful and passionate and prophetic way, but he really lived it too and got so involved. He gave his life so that our brothers and sisters of colour could be treated with the dignity that they deserve. And so I want to look at some inspiring things out of this book this week and I'd encourage you to buy it. Or if you want a shortened version, I'll send a YouTube link of him telling his story.
The Cost of Prayer
And I want to start with a quote about prayer. On page 52 of his book, he talks about how his wife inspired him to pray. And he says this: “Elizabeth understood that prayer for others is more than tossing some names at God. Real prayer is to carry someone's need intimately. Patiently and painfully in one's own heart. Holding them in love and lifting them tenderly and consistently into the light of God's grace. Real prayer costs and Elizabeth was willing to pay its price.”
Reading that, I reflected on my own prayer life and thought, maybe there's some improving I could do.
And so I want to encourage you to think about that statement today. And consider whether your prayer life costs.
Deep Compassionate Prayer
James 5:16 says that we must pray for each other so that we can be healed. And we see Jesus doing this in John 17, praying passionately for his disciples. And the whole New Testament is a story of people living together, helping and encouraging and building each other up.
And so pray today. Pray not just for yourself. Pray for others. And not just in a light way, but holding one another's burdens. Holding people's needs intimately in your own heart. Crying when they cry. Celebrating when they celebrate. And truly caring for the people you pray for.
Learn a lesson from Elizabeth's story today, whose prayer life was not shallow, but was deep, compassionate, loving.
