5700 Rudnick Ave. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 (818) 346-6968 Home > Resources > Prayer Resources > Prayer is a Privilege, Not a Duty PRAYER RESOURCES   PRAYER IS A PRIVILEGE, NOT A DUTY Maxie Dunnam What have you been experiencing the past four weeks, indeed your entire past experience in prayer, will determine your response to the great idea we want to consider today: Prayer is a privilege, not a duty.   Earlier in our inserts we thought about how discipline seems to take the spontaneity out of prayer. Many of us see prayer as a discipline, as a duty, something we must do. We’ve been taught that we ought to pray, and when we don’t, we feel guilty. We will take a giant step forward in our adventure when we cease seeing prayer as a duty and begin to look upon it as a privilege. As a privilege, the discipline of praying becomes a creative freedom, not bondage of duty. Consider this testimony of Sir Wilfred Grenfell:   The privilege of prayer to me is one of the most cherished possessions, because faith and experience alike convince me that God sees and answers, and [God’s] to give or withhold, as [God] knows best. If it were otherwise, I would not dare to pray at all. In the quiet of home, in the heat of life and strife, in the face of death, the privilege of speech with God is inestimable. I value it more because it calls for nothing that the wayfaring [one], though a fool, cannot give-that is, the simplest expression to [one’s] simplest desire. When I can neither see, nor hear, nor speak, still I can pray so that God can hear. When I finally pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I expect to pass through it in conversation with [God].   There is a lot in this; reread it slowly.   Put that testimony of a great Christian disciple alongside the word from the psalmist whose hunger for God we encountered on the first day of our prayer adventure:   Psalm 63:1-8   O God, you are my God, I seek you, my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is not water. So I have looked upon you in the sanctuary, beholding your power and glory. Because your steadfast love is better than, life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands and call on your name.   My soul is satisfied as with a rich feast, and my mouth praises you with joyful lips when I think of you on my bed, and meditate on you in the watches of the night; for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I sing for joy. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.   Like love and friendship, music, books, art, laughter, and play, prayer is a privilege, a great opportunity to be sought. Not to pray is an act of self-robbery. We are free to pray. The privilege is open to all of us. The privilege is communion with God, feeling God’s presence, being aware of God’s guidance.   Try this meditation at home. Get in a relaxed position. You may want to lie on your back. If you choose to sit, put both feet on the floor. Adjust yourself in the chair so that you are comfortable. Close your eyes and imagine Christ present with you.   Repeat aloud, but quietly, deliberately, reverently, with long pauses between each sounding, repeat three times: Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ.   Continue to imagine Christ’s presence with you, and be quiet in his presence for two or three minutes.   Now read aloud the Twenty-third Psalm very slowly and deliberately.   King James Version:   The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.   He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside still waters.   He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’ sake.   Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear not evil: for thou art with me; they rod and they staff they comfort me.   Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest My head with oil; my cup runneth over   Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.   Stay quiet now, letting the thoughts fills your mind and heart. You may want to go back and read it quietly again and pause to ponder the particular words that have special meaning to you today.   Kathryn Reasoner   Director of Discipleship