When We Are Cold in Prayer

Meditation for the day taken from Everyday Prayer with John Calvin written by Donald McKim:

Scripture: Philippians 1:3-11

The apostle Paul was a man of prayer, and this is reflected in almost every letter he wrote to the churches and individuals. The Philippians church was especially dear to him as it was a church he founded when he visited that city in Acts 16. His first encounter with that city was not pleasant -- jailed, along with Silas, for advancing the kingdom of the Lord. Yet, a church started and grew. Some ten years later, Paul addresses these dear saints in a letter bearing their name.

The letter opens with comfort from the apostle. In his words, he labors to pastorally offer them something of hope, telling them that he was praying for them. Indeed, what better thang can a Christian do than to say to another brother or sister that they are praying for them. There is a real danger to receive those words without much thought or comfort. We sometimes hear people tell us that, and we respond well by saying "thank you." After all, we do have manners! Yet, we should understand deeply the extreme peace and comfort those words convey. Prayer moves the hand of God, and the prayers of the saints for the saints are how God helps and guides his people. Of course, when we tell others we are praying for them, we ought to be telling the truth. The words "I am praying for you" are not a mere solace but are to be heartfelt and meaningful.

There are times in our lives when our own prayer life is dusty and dry. We have all experienced those seasons when prayer is like going to the dentist. We dread it, and we languish in it. The effort seems hard, but we do so out of duty but lacking the zeal. When in this state, we can stir our emotions to pray by thinking of the needs of others. It may be a loved one or friend. It may be a brother or sister in the church. Whatever the case, if we begin to look outside ourselves and consider the needs of others, our prayer may be revived, and the free-flowing aspect of prayer renewed. The apostle Paul models this well for us in the opening chapter of the letter. Keep in mind that Paul was not on vacation in some posh resort on the Mediterranean Sea. He was in prison for the sake of the Gospel. Yet, in that difficult place, he turns his affections and prayers to the saints' needs at Philippi. Paul draws himself out of his circumstance to do the most important thing anyone can do for others: he prays! Calvin wrote, "If, at any time, we are cold in prayer or more negligent than we ought to be, because we do not feel the pressure of immediate necessity, let us instantly reflect how many of our brethren are worn out by varied and heavy afflictions, are weighed down by deep anxiety, or are reduced to the worst distress. If we are not roused from our lethargy, we must have hearts of stone." (100). Too often, we struggle to pray for the needs of others because we do not know those needs. We fail to ask others how we can pray for them. Thus, we either do not pray for others or gloss over the prayer and pray generically. That isn't what Paul did for the Philippian church. He prayed with a heart of thanks for their partnership with him for the sake of the Gospel, and he prayed for their love to abound and their knowledge to increase in the grace of Christ. Brothers and sisters, there is much hurt in the world. That hurt may be sitting next to you in the pew. Ask them. Pray with and for them. It is a sure sign that you have a love for your brethren and will undoubtedly revitalize your prayer life during those dry seasons of prayer.