But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.
–Matthew 6:6
It was the first week of January (in São Paulo, Brazil) and Isabel had just closed the lid of her Christmas trunk (a large chest made of Dutch cedar). Inside, she had again placed the artificial tree and its ornaments, together with the objects that always made up the family atmosphere at this time of the year. The house now seemed empty and cold, without the colourful glitter of the decorations and devoid of the happy presence of the relatives and friends that had been part of the celebrations of the birth of Christ and the arrival of the New Year. She was already missing them. Nevertheless, after so many days of shopping, planning and serving meals, taking care of guests and participating in services and programs, she now seemed to have finally reached the peace and quiet she needed to start keeping her “New Year’s Resolution”.
Mug in hand, she settled on the sofa beside her desk. Reaching out, she grabbed the paper responsible for the decision she had made several weeks before. It was a form that asked questions about her spiritual life—part of a course that she was taking.
“How embarrassing”, she thought. “These people are going to think that I’m not even a Christian. They want to know how many minutes per day I separate for prayer. How about none! But I do pray. There are days that I talk with God a lot. When I get up, I think—‘Father, take care of me and my family today’. Every time I remember someone with a problem, I ask the Lord to be mindful of that person. When something upsets me, I ask for strength. When I notice a sin, I ask for forgiveness…”
Isabel continued reflecting. She remembered some brothers and sisters in her church that seemed to have “powerful” prayers. Many of these people were even busier than she was. Were they overcoming all the obstacles and reserving a daily period to talk with God? And if she would hand out this form to her church’s leaders—how many minutes would they write into that little space? But they weren’t the ones that mattered at that moment. It was about her own habits that she was being called to give account. Sighing, she looked at the “ZERO” that she had written into the blank and closed her eyes for a quick talk with God, asking for strength as she reconfirmed her commitment.
Inserting a CD so she might listen to hymns, Isabel looked at the other objects on her desk. There were her Bible, a small photo album, the new Daily Bread published by TransWorld Radio and a notebook for annotating her progress, as well as some coloured pens. Everything had been carefully prepared with the intent of transforming her sporadic conversations with the Lord into a regular and profitable practice. Her goal was to dedicate 15 minutes out of her mornings to Bible study and another fifteen to prayer, at least three times per week. She already knew that there would be days when she would have neither the opportunity nor the place to isolate herself with God in this manner.
And so it was that she began, at the beginning of the new year, to separate time for daily Bible reading and, especially, to speak with God. The days went by, and the months did too. Bit by bit, she overcame the obstacles and, in the middle of the year, she prepared a report to present to her companions in the course. She was radiant and excited about letting them know what she had experienced and learned. In an informal setting, she started to share with them how something which, at first, had seemed to be an impossible obligation to meet, had been transformed into a privilege, pleasure and blessing.
—Listen, in the past people would come to ask me to pray for them. After all, I’m an elder’s wife, a Sunday School teacher… I, of course, never said “no” and, at times, even wrote down their requests, but then the slip of paper would disappear and, in the busyness of the week, I would rarely stop to talk to God about them. Only in cases of life and death and maybe not even then!… My prayers were super quick—like “Lord, please bless my family, the sick people, the grieving, the unemployed in our church… Deliver us from evil…. Help me to do this job… Thanks for the food….
—Then, when I would see that person who had asked me to pray, I would think—what was it that she asked me to pray for? Does she have glaucoma or cataracts? Was it a stroke or a heart attack? And since I did not ask, I also did not thank. I didn’t notice many answers to my prayers.
While she spoke, Isabel held a fat photo album in her lap.
One person asked — What is that? Why did you bring it?
She smiled and responded —This is my “prayer list”.
—That? It’s huge!
—It is. I started with this one here. She showed one of the little albums that normally come with photos when they are developed.
—Then I transferred everything to this one, which is somewhat larger. But it was no good either because I had to move everything when I wanted to include more photos in a certain category. Finally, I got this one here. See it? I can put more pages in and change their position. At first, I put in the photos of my husband and our parents, children and siblings. At prayer time, I would look and try to think of at least one thing to thank for and another to pray for, for each one. Next I added uncles, aunts, nieces and nephews. Then I remembered the servants, the pastor and church members, missionaries, friends from the present and from the past, the people in Neto’s work… After some time, I realized that I hadn’t included our government leaders, the teachers of our children, the family doctor… And I’m still adding more.
—But you don’t have pictures of all these folks, do you?
—No, I don’t. But I’m working on it.
Isabel showed the places where she had inserted cards with only names.
—What about those coloured stickers?
—Those are details of the requests and thanksgiving that I am collecting. I annotate them in a very condensed way because some times the matters are private. And I keep changing them. Right now I’ve had to divide them between relatives, friends and church family, distant and near.
—My brothers and sisters, if you already have the habit of praying regularly, you will understand what I’m trying to share. I could talk for hours on end, just about the impact of separating that daily time to be alone with God. In the beginning, it was really hard. Right after I would help my husband and children leave in the morning, I would plan to meditate and pray. But then I would get involved in household chores or pick up the translation or writing work waiting to be done. Before I knew it, it would be night, and I would have done a thousand important things but would not have prayed. When I took a serious look, I realized that it was definitely a matter of lack of priorities. There was one thing that I never left off doing in my day. And that was looking at my e-mail on the computer. I never lacked time for that! I then resolved that I would not answer my e-mail, nor write anything, until having had my quiet time. Now, I have already formed a habit and I only skip Sundays and the days in which I have commitments in the morning. Even so, I try to read my Daily Bread while I dry and brush my hair before going out.
One of the professors interrupted—Tell us, Isabel, what changed in your life when you started talking to God every day.
—My relationship with God changed and with people as well. With respect to the people in the church, I have a lot more friends. I never lack for conversation now. Some already come to tell me about how God answered a certain prayer or to share a trouble or a blessing. I have more courage to ask pertinent questions, to alert and even to scold them, when it seems necessary.
—They don’t get offended?
—Rarely. To them, I am not a meddler but someone who cares enough to bring their needs into the presence of God. Together, we have seen very special results!
—Before, I prayed for the “missionaries.” Now, I try to know more about the life of each one. I read their letters and talk to God about the boat motor that was stolen again, about their students, the son that is homesick….
—I’ve had interesting experiences in another area as well. I have a part dedicated to the people that have worked in our home. I put in old photos of some that had disappeared from our lives (After all, it has been almost thirty years). Almost right afterwards, two of them made an effort to locate me. They were very moved to know that I was still praying for them. It was as if God were saying—Do you see, Isabel, how I am opening doors in response to your prayers!? Now you’ve got a splendid opportunity to love and continue evangelising the one and to encourage the other to live out her faith.
—Perhaps the greatest blessing of all has been my own spiritual growth. After meditating on the Word, and before going through my “list”, I talk with God about what I think He wants to teach me. I keep a notebook beside me, where I annotate my thoughts, plan my day—all in His presence. I notice areas where I am going wrong and verify my need for repentance and change as well as to seek forgiveness. I become alert to possible dangers, find more strength to flee from temptations, perceive solutions… Now and then, this helps me to make a decision or to perceive ways that I might give or seek help. When problems or obstacles arise throughout the day, they do not frighten me so much because I have already surrendered my plans to my loving Father. My love for God has grown very much because I am getting to know Him better and relying more on Him. I have learned to recognize blessings and be thankful for them. I have learned how to praise Him better.
—But, brothers and sisters, I have to admit that separating these moments continues to be a struggle for me. There are days, of course, that my obligations take me away from home and from this opportunity to be alone with God. But, when I am at home, other things always appear to lure me away from my intentions. There are telephone calls, people at the door, visitors, guests, urgent translations, sick children… I can assure you that it was not for nothing that Paul used terms like devote yourselves, be faithful, give your attention to when he referred to prayer.* One needs willpower and determination to simply tell those around, “Please excuse me, but I have a commitment now”, and then withdraw. But I intend to persevere. The Lord willing, next Christmas, I will be praying faithfully, in the middle of all the commotion!
betty@portela.com
Published in SAF em Revista
Official Publication of the National Federation of Ladies Auxiliaries
Presbyterian Church of Brazil
October/November/December 2002
*Colossians 4.2; Romans 12.12; Acts 6.4
Suggestions for Meditation or Discussion
1. Notice how many times Jesus withdrew to pray (Luke 5.16, 6.12, 9.18,28, 22.41; Matthew 1.35…)
2. Notice how many times Paul asks or thanks for the prayers of the brethren (Romans 15.30; 2 Corinthians 1.11; Ephesians 6.18…)
3. Is a “quiet time” something optional for God’s children? (Luke 18.1, 2l.34-36; 1 Thessalonians 5.17,18…)
4. To keep up her new habit, Isabel abstained from her favorite activity until she had fulfilled her spiritual duty. Evaluate your own life and check if there is any pleasant activity that tends to be your daily idol (that causes you to skip having a time of meditation and prayer). Write it down and share your desire to change (substitute or precede) this with at least one other person.
5. If you already spend time with God on a daily basis, prepare to share how you came to discipline this part of your life, and what has been the result of this faithfulness (Titus 2.3-5; 1 Timothy 3.11…)