We know that Muslims observe formal prayer five times a day, and we know that Christian monks and nuns observe formal prayer seven times a day, and we know that ancient Christian tradition calls upon every follower of Christ to pray the Lord’s Prayer three times each day (morning, midday and evening). However, the Word of God within the Holy Bible invites Christians to “pray without ceasing” every single day, 365 days a year:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not extinguish the Spirit.”
(First Thessalonians 5:16-19)
Of course, this is not strictly referring to formal prayer time where we take a few quiet meditative minutes in our day to center ourselves on Christ, but it’s mostly referring to the informal continual conversation with God that we practice throughout our daily lives: at home, at work, behind the wheel of a car, doing household chores, etc.
Certainly, we’re not expected to observe a time of formal prayer seven times each day as our monastic brothers and sisters in Christ observe. Monastic men and women of the Church do a great service to us by their formal prayer practices seven times a day, and by their deep spiritual contemplation, and by their devotional writings. However, for the vast majority of Christians this would be very impractical to try to observe the level of formal prayer that monastic Christians practice. Be that as it may, as I already mentioned, there is the ancient practice of praying the Lord’s Prayer three times a day. (For me, I try to pray the Lord’s Prayer at least once per day.) But there are other wonderful and brief pre-written prayers that we can utilize for the purpose of centering ourselves in God. Here are three examples of such simple formal prayers:
“Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end.”
(The Glory Be)
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
(The Jesus Prayer)
“Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love.”
(The Holy Spirit Prayer)
During the Season of Lent, we are given a special time of year to recognize our poverty of spirit and to seek the riches of God’s grace in Christ through more dedicated devotional reading, prayer and contemplation. To that end, we can use short formulaic prayers that are easily memorized (like The Glory Be, The Jesus Prayer, and The Holy Spirit Prayer) on a daily basis in order to de-clutter and center our hearts and minds, helping us to refocus and continue our informal daily conversation with God. So, these are like spiritual reset buttons that we can use.
Indeed, our annual Lenten observance gives us a special opportunity to recognize that our life in this world is ultimately dust and that God is our one and only True Rock. When we go through major transitions in life, it is okay to be sad. When we face depressing circumstances, it is okay to feel depressed. For we are dust and to dust we shall return (see Genesis 3:19). However, the good news of Jesus Christ is that we have a new birth into a living hope:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
(First Peter 1:3-5)
May we all have a good Lenten Season this year, daily praying with both formal and informal prayer practices to access the riches of God’s grace to help us through everything that life in this impermanent world places in front of us. So now I leave you with one more pre-written prayer from an old Catholic prayer booklet published by the Dehonian Monastic Order of the Sacred Heart of Jesus:
In every need let me come to You with humble trust, saying: Jesus, help me!
In all my doubts, perplexities and temptations: Jesus, help me!
In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials: Jesus, help me!
In the occasional failure of my hopes and plans, in disappointments, troubles and sorrows: Jesus, help me!
When others reject me, and Your grace alone can assist me: Jesus, help me!
When I throw myself on Your mercy and love as my Savior: Jesus, help me!
When my heart is cast down by frustration at seeing no good come from my efforts: Jesus, help me!
When I feel impatient, and my cross irritates me: Jesus, help me!
When I am ill, and my head and hands cannot work, and I am lonely: Jesus, help me!
Always, always, in spite of weaknesses, falls and shortcomings of every kind: My Lord Jesus Christ, help me and forever guide me. Amen.
Blessed Lent to all of you! Pastor Tim