Growing up in one of the orthodox churches, prayer was rhetorical and majorly mechanical. You knew what prayers were said at certain times of the year. If you were a faithful congregant, you would be able to say those prayers without opening the prayer book. The prayers were written by Christians who lived centuries ago. The struggles were similar, and one could understand the thought behind prayers, but for folks like me, many times there was a disconnect.
Being a member of the choir and also a lay reader, I could recite most prayers in the book. The priest only has to start, and I would be chorusing. In such circumstances, the focus was not essential. Meditations were hardly necessary. Just know the words, read along and respond when you have to. The order of service left us a window of about 90 seconds to say what was in our hearts. Pray someone tell me, how much heart issue can be cramped into 90 seconds?
This whole thing left a craving in my heart for a dynamic relationship. I needed to report some people, and I needed to ask God to allow me to come first in class; 90 seconds certainly did not do it for me. When I was introduced to the new birth, and exposed to a more vibrant relationship (not that it was not existent in the life I had known before, I just was not exposed to it), I jumped at it. Who wants to serve a God that was so far away? I needed Him up close and personal, someone to gist with, and the new birth afforded me that. I was in heaven! I loved the ability to tell Him all, including mundane matters.
I noticed, however, that such prayers were not peculiar to the orthodox alone. In today's church, we find pre-written prayers, and they are to be said in certain situations. It cuts across denominations. I am a little uncomfortable using someone else's words to express my thoughts, especially when I know exactly how I feel. I believe it removes from the relationship. If I came before a close friend reading someone else's speech or list and expect him to respond cordially.
If I had to pray words written by another, I would first read through and agree with those words. You may not be like me, you may disagree with my style, but I do believe there is a level ground in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Bible calls Him the author and finisher of our faith. He came to earth as a man, lived in our world to show us how to live. One of the many things He let us into was that He had a prayer life.
The disciples noted that he prayed and that John the Baptist and his disciples also prayed. But they saw a difference and asked their master for a guide. Hear what He says in the Gospel of Luke:
He said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.” Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need. “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:2-13)
