A Matter of the Heart

Here's something I just wrote on a (nearly 3 hour) whim, to a secondary acquaintance of mine, whom I have never met. And since I haven't updated in... "!" *realizes how much time has past* -And it was long enough (Sorry Grant) -And I guess that it needed to be let out anyway... Here it is.

*Note* Grant, his wife, and Vin (my friend from His Hill Bible School) have started a college ministry in Salem, Oregon called University Life. They could use your prayers and encouragement, as God grows their hearts and furthers their education and ministry there. Vin is working on a CD and has some of his music on the 'media' page of his website: www.vinthomas.com


(with a few things added that I didn't want to take up space with on his blog) Comment on Wed. April 20,'05 post.

Hey Grant,

I don't really have a good intro here, so I'll get to the point. Just to offer an encouragement to a fellow brother in Christ... I've found that I do not fully comprehend the 'mechanics' of prayer. This never seemed to be a problem until recent years. I heard one of my bible school friends say something similar to what you've expressed, and I remember being rather confused, until I experienced the same thing not too long after. Prayer had become such a natural and instinctive thing to me as a kid, that I never really thought about how to do it.

So... is it a question of growth in one's journey of sanctification to question how prayer is effectively carried out in the physical realm? I'm not quite sure I can answer that one yet myself. Although I find comfort... I can rest, knowing that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us when we don't know how, or what to pray...

(26)In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;
(27)and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.(Romans 8, esp. in context of vv.22 & following).

(now read the previous context, I'd never noticed this... it makes a lot more sense -to me anyway) Here's a link... Romans 18-30. -Added

I can only share from experience, and one of my personal struggles is whether or not to pray only because of routine. And I have found I am more satisfied with my prayer life when I pray from the depths of my heart... not necessarily with words or 'spoken' dialogue in my mind, but with spiritual desires and longing (for lack of a better word) -ideas that I find here difficult to express. And, sometimes I have to examine what, if anything has slipped between my heart and the Lord, -which invariably, is the case.

All that to say I can relate to where you're at...

I've heard it said that "The more you know, the more you find out how much you don't know." Maybe that's something the Lord uses to keep us humble as we increase in our knowledge of Him.

The Lord knows our heart...
-JK
Jude 24-5; Ps.103,104; Is.55