Proclaimer Blog
Duplicity (2) – My prayer life is great
The pastor prays. Always. Have you noticed? He prays before his sermon, perhaps. He prays at the end. Maybe if he is leading a service he prays during it too. He attends the prayer meeting – it's his job. He prays. If there's a silent moment, he steps in. Gosh, people think, this is a godly man. What a pray-er! And public praying is always effusive. I mean, the pastor is praying on behalf of the congregation, so he doens't load his prayers with groans and cries. He prays big. He prays positive. And the people think, this man is a man of prayer. Perhaps they even say that to him – I remember once someone saying to me, "I tell people our pastor is a great man of prayer" – imagine the pride!
Recognise this?
And then he sits at home and prays…nothing. His prayer folder gathers dust. He sits down in his study and presumes on the grace of God. He knows that God is gracious. And so, if prayer is hard and dry, God is still gracious. He finds it harder to get up in the morning. Early mornings are out. Never mind 6am, he struggles to make 8am. He prays well with others, but on his own..
And he daren't tell anyone. He daren't let people know that he struggles to talk to his Saviour. He knows it will be a ministry killer. So he maintains the illusion and slowly, gradually, he convinces himself that this is normal and he doesn't need to take remedial action.
Recognise this?
If you wonder how I can nail it so accurately and effectively, well……
Later in the week, some remedies. But for now, just the diagnosis.