Lord, Teach Me To Pray: Prayer Mentors
Some people may start learning about prayer by watching or observing others pray. Over the years, I had many mentors in prayer. Each person deposited some aspect of prayer into my life, either by what they prayed, how they prayed, where they prayed, why they prayed, or even by how long or how short they prayed.
I learned that prayer was an opportunity to talk to God personally. Prayer time was a time to converse with my Maker and yield to His heart. Mothers of Nations, there is no reason for anxiousness when every moment of our life we can yield to Him and talk to Him through prayer.
When asked what prayer is, people can list several examples such as a time of seeking, a time to help others, a time of fellowship, a time of cleansing, a time to adore the Lord, or a time to make petitions known. For me, prayer is all of that and more! It is a time to connect with His heart in the throne room of the Father. Each time we pray, we divinely hook up with Jesus Who is already in intercession for us sitting right next to the Father.
When I look back at my particular prayer mentors, I remember a lady named Patti who cried when she prayed, calling out to God from a place of compassion and love. Another friend named May would ask in faith without wavering, believing every word she prayed would come to pass. Chris would yield to the Holy Spirit with groanings, sighs, and noises unfamiliar to me, but God would move powerfully in a meeting after she prayed. Men and women I observed who prayed with boldness and confidence unveiled to me the authority needed in prayer.
Once the Lord brought a traveling evangelist into our lives that taught us much about prayer. On one occasion he had my husband down on his knees in a restaurant, praying with an unbeliever to get saved. This evangelist prayed in the car asking for protection and guidance as he drove, and he thanked God every time he arrived safely at his destination. He prayed at the beginning of a phone conversation for the Holy Spirit to guide the discussion. He prayed at the end of the conversation to thank God for doing so. Every time he came into a home he prayed, and as he left a home he would pray as well. Not only did the man bring salvation to many souls, but he also brought conviction in regard to prayer to our lives.
I have had mentors who prayed loudly and mentors who prayed softly. In the end, I have come to realize that we each find our own prayer style. God is not looking for only one method or administration. When all is said and done, He simply desires hearts that will seek after Him through prayer.
Dr. Sharon Predovich
