Some time ago I began to recognize that my prayers were left wanting. They were shallow, self-focused, distracted, often "on-the-fly" and "off-the-cuff", and they simply didn't reflect what I believe about the One to whom I pray. My experience paled in comparison to that described below from The Valley of Vision. I encourage you to read below and reflect on whether or not this is an accurate description of your experience in prayer.
In Prayer
O Lord,
In prayer I launch far out into the eternal world,
and on that broad ocean my soul triumphs
over all the evils on the shores of mortality.
Time, with its gay amusements and cruel disappointments
never appears so inconsiderate as then.
In prayer I see myself as nothing;
I find my heart going after thee with intensity,
and long with vehement thirst to live to thee.
Blessed be the strong gales of the Spirit
that speed me on my way to the New Jerusalem.
In prayer all things here below vanish,
and nothing seems important but holiness of heart
and the salvation of others.
In prayer all my worldly cares, fears,
anxieties disappear, and are of as little significance
as a puff of wind.
In prayer my soul inwardly exults with lively thoughts
at what thou art doing for thy church,
and I long that thou shouldest get thyself a great name
from sinners returning to Zion.
In prayer I am lifted above the frown and
flatteries of life, and taste heavenly joys;
entering into the eternal world I can give myself
to thee with all my heart, to be thine for ever.
In prayer I can place all my concerns in thy hands,
to be entirely at thy disposal,
having no will or interest of my own.
In prayer I can intercede for my friends, ministers,
sinners, the church, thy kingdom to come,
with greatest freedom, ardent hopes,
as a son to his father, as a lover to the beloved.
Help me to be all prayer and never to cease praying.
Needless to say, this wasn't my experience but that last line was my heart's cry. I felt like I needed a reboot, something to help me refocus my thoughts and attention as I come before the throne of Almighty God! Thankfully my friend Joe Thorn, lead pastor at Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, had just the thing. He's created a Prayer Guide entitled Walking Through the Valley of Vision. You can check it out over at his blog. Basically it's a schedule with three daily appointments in The Valley of Vision. I modified the schedule a bit to fit my day but have truly found this exercise to be of great benefit in refocusing my heart and mind as I come to prayer and helping my to think more deeply on what it is I'm praying and to Whom!
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