Help with prayers
Howdy, I have a question about prayer. I understand that prayer is a very important part of our lives when being a Lutheran (or any religion for that matter). But when I pray, it feels empty inside, like there's no real meaning to it. Am I praying correctly? I begin my prayers with, "Dear Father in heaven", and end them with "Amen", but I think there's more to praying correctly than how it's formatted. Can you help me with why my prayers seem so shallow?
It might be helpful if you were to think of how you would answer this question: “What is prayer?” How you look upon prayer and what you think about it can be in line with what the Bible says about prayer, or it might deviate from that.
Prayer is the privilege Christians have of speaking to God. Prayer is the Christian’s worshipful conversation with God. Prayer is the Christian’s heart-to-heart talk with God. That conversation can include “petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving” (1 Timothy 2:1). That conversation is a running dialogue with God throughout the day.
When you say that praying leaves you feeling empty, I would encourage you to keep emotions in proper perspective. God’s law (2 Corinthians 7:8-11) and God’s gospel (Psalm 51:12) can certainly produce emotions of sorrow and joy in our hearts and lives. What we want to be careful about is basing our relationship with God on our emotions.
The same caution is applicable for prayer. When you and I pray to God as his redeemed children, we know and believe that he will hear our prayers and answer them in the best way and at the best time. You and I might have different emotional levels attached to that knowledge and faith when we pray at different times of life and in different circumstances. Yet, keep in mind that the power of prayer does not lie in our emotions. The power of prayer lies in our all-powerful God.
What I do not know is the content of your prayers. Even without that knowledge, I can suggest that, if you are not doing so already, you might want to supplement your own personal prayers with prayers prepared by others. There are many prayers available in our hymnal, on the synod’s website and in prayer books. Using those prayers can certainly expand your prayer life. Perhaps you would also find value and benefit in prayer journaling. Northwestern Publishing House has numerous resources for your prayer life.
I hope this gives you some help. God bless you.