Ruth: Chapter 5: In Your Own Words

I think that this chapter could be summarized as "talking to my best friend".  This idea is exemplified right at the beginning of the chapter when it gives an example on p. 30, "she was comfortable speaking heart-to-heart with the Lord, sharing her thoughts and experiences with Him." That sounds like a best friend relationship to me. The author described this kind of spontaneous prayer as affective prayer or prayer of the heart. 

Have you heard the song, "Step by Step He Leads Me" by The Hands? (I love the song). Anyway the following quote brought that song to mind. "...one goes from the prayer of the lips, to the prayer of the mind, to the prayer of the heart."  Step by step he leads us to Himself.  How awesome our God is yet He does not push Himself on us. He is the hound of heaven but it is like the Lord can try to give us the gift of faith or prayer but He honors our decision not to open the gift.  I really want the Lord to lead me step by step but I think I am like a child wanting to "grow up" immediately yet step by step he leads me.

On p. 32 the authors brings up the use of short aspirations in prayer....like "Lord Jesus, save me" "Lord, your will be done" "Here I am Lord, use me" and "Jesus, Jesus, Jesus". Brief prayers like these all help us to pray unceasingly in the midst of cluttered and challenging lives yet they keep our focus on our Lord.  

Getting back to the spontaneous prayer it says "we naturally converse with those we love, so why not with God?" Wow!  How much do I talk to my spouse, children, co-workers, etc? Contrast that with how much I talk with the Lord. I have lots of room for improvement.  This calls us to examine our priorities in life.  Step by step He leads me.

Affective prayer it says tends to become shorter and simpler. We are called to persevere in affective prayer and at the same time try to live a true Christian life.  It is a union with Christ that we strive and hunger for, not for the things of this world that don't last. We are satisfied only by intimate time spent with our Lord... just being with Him and chatting as best friends. May we all be challenged by this and the other chapters to give the Lord a bit more of our time, our hearts and our love.  

These have been great little chapters on prayer and it looks like we will now move into other areas.  I think just these first 5 chapters have been worth the price of the book as they called us to get down to or back to the basics of our walk with the Lord.  

I am looking forward to reading all posts and comments.  Hope you find the time to post soon.  A  friend, who lives in Washington, just informed me that she bought the book but just has not had time to join the blog and post yet. Remember you can join at any time and post when you have time.