Can a Prayer 🙏 Be a Prayer Even if It’s Not Spoken?
We were sitting in a little circle, about 14 of us, with a candle on a little table in the center. As we got seated one of our 2 instructors lit the small flame. (What is it about a candle that makes an almost a tangible “peace” come into a room?) Stopping our chatter, we fixed our eyes on the other instructor. She told us we were going to take some time sitting in the circle in “prayer” and that this would be how we would begin each of our monthly classes.
Only this “prayer” was going to be different. She told us that God was in the room with us and His Spirit stirring within us. We knew He was. We could feel his presence. “Sit comfortably, I invite you to close your eyes while I read a short passage of scripture.”
She read the passage, maybe 3 - 5 verses with a minute of 2 silence before and after, instructing us to keep our eyes closed, relax and receive in God’s presence. After the 3rd reading, she instructed us to continue to sit in silence, comfortably with our eyes closed, hands open on our lap if we would like in “prayer”.
But not speaking prayer. Not even thinking prayer with strings of words and sentences directed to God. Stillness. Being with God in His presence. Maybe, circling back to a word or phrase from the scripture or a precious name of God that the Holy Spirit was impressing on our heart. Wait, I thought, prayer … “Silence? Not speaking? How can this be prayer without words, petitions or reciting scripture?”
But then she explained prayer in a way I hadn’t considered before. God is the main initiator of prayer not us. He is the primary one moving, doing. Prayer can be as simple as spending time in His presence and opening ourselves to Him. Welcoming Him to do His work in us.
Wait a minute, it’s not a list? You know, ACTS.. Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication? What about all the needs of the world? What about the list of things I need to pray about, you know, pray for family members on Monday, missionaries on Tuesday, the Government on Wednesday, my shortcomings on Thursday… or praying scripture assigned to different topics each day. Isn’t that what prayer is?
I have to confess I’ve never felt like a success at prayer. As close as I’ve felt to God for 40+ years, if you would have asked me I would have said, “I guess I’m just not much of a “Pray-er.” I can only pray for a few minutes. I can’t stick to any of the prayer plans. I’ve never been able to discipline myself to practice those methods of prayer for long. I can do them for a few days or weeks but then I just can’t anymore. I guess it’s just not my gift. Maybe some people just have the gift of “prayer” and others don’t.”
Could prayer not only be a Christian’s spoken prayers but time like this, opening myself to Him, inviting Him to work in me in His presence?
Could sitting in that circle with other believers with our hearts open to God without speaking be prayer?
I realized that in my theology I had been putting myself in the center of prayer instead of God. I was the main character not Him. Prayer was up to me. The calamity or salvation of the world was up to me and praying those lists.
Knowing He was the center changed everything.
Coming before Him as His child, opening myself, inviting Him to work in me. That was prayer at it’s basest point. Letting his Spirit saturate every crevice of my being. Yes, speaking prayer when people or needs came to my mind. Praying scriptures. But mostly it was about being with Him, inviting Him to fill and giving Him Lordship over all of me. When I got up from my knees and went on to my day, praying as things came. When I was in a situation that needed prayer but it wasn’t appropriate to talk out loud or I had been slammed with calamity or exhaustion and was too weak or someone was facing pain or loss and words weren’t appropriate, turning my heart fully towards God, He heard my prayer even without words. Prayer without ceasing.
So now, I don’t feel like a failure at prayer anymore. I understand it’s way broader, more wonderful and richer than I knew. Yes, prayer can be a prayer even without speaking.
“Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.” Ps 139:4 NIV
~ Lori
P.s. I loved the book Opening To God: A Guide to Prayer by Thomas H Green
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What has God taught you about Prayer 🙏 ?