Sweating prayers.

Do you remember those adverts for Cadbury’s Crème Egg – How do you eat yours?

Well, when it comes to praying, how do you pray your prayers?

Do you find your prayers flooding out as you wash the dishes, each one surrendered into God’s hands with every dish that you put on the draining board? Or do you pray silently when you are alone in the bathroom so that you can actually hear your own thoughts without being interrupted? Or do your pour out your prayers loudly to yourself as you stand in the middle of a field watching your dog dart back and forth between imaginary points of interest? Or do you only find it possible to pray as you write down poetry; on the page you find your voice to God? Or do you find yourself praying as you play an instrument; uttering a song that is for no-one other than your Heavenly Father?

Is there a right way or inappropriate way of praying?
Nope.

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.” (Eph 6:18 NIV)

Praying is not restricted to prayer meetings, or your quite time in the morning. There are good praying habits that we teach our children, such as closing their eyes and putting their hands together, which we too employ; these shut out all distractions, but they are not essential to praying. You can pray with your eyes open, you can pray while you drive, you can pray as you jog.
In the above verse we are encouraged to pray with “all kinds of prayers”. What does this mean? It means there are no rules that restrict you communicating with your Heavenly Father; it is so liberatingly open ended! As we meditate on this we begin to realise that prayer leaves us through every pore of our life; tears, words, hugs, music, clapping, even sweating!

Prayer is as invaluable or useless as you make it, but only you know the best line communication between you and God; how you can pour out your heart and listen to His guidance.

“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thes 5:16-18 NIV)

-Andrew Carey