By Rev. Gregory Wilson
A.M.E. Today Contributing Columnist
eagleny@yahoo.com

It is a New Year and many of us have made new promises to God for the things we are going to do better. For many one of these things we say we are going to do better is to pray. As I sat looking out of my study window on Mountainash Road in Brampton, Ontario (Canada) I thought about the reasons we do not pray. At least for some of us. So I decided to share them with you. After all we all have reasons for neglecting our prayer time, but if you look at each of them, you realize that in the words of our youth they are "whack" and we are only "dissin’ " God. In other words we are disrespecting God and they are really lousy excuses.

1. PRAYER IS BORING

I know to some of us prayer is like cleaning the house. Maybe your prayer time just needs some variety. Maybe try praying in a new place (the shower – God knows what you look like) or at a new time (during coffee/tea break or for our youth during study hall). Pray outdoors surrounded by God’s creation, here in Toronto you can walk by the lake. Take all that God has given us in, then thank Him for the blue sky (the no snow to talk about on January 4, 2002, unless you are in ATL), and thank Him for just allowing you to be you.

2. I NEVER HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY

Life is good. I am alive, I do have a few dollars to spend or maybe someone has a few dollars to spend on you. I am here in 2002; I have a few friends...life is okay! Why do I need to pray? I know in this life we all seem to have times we don’t pray. We must learn to be overcomes and overcome our shyness with God and realize that He is not looking for flowery words or even for us to talk for a long time when we pray. He gave us a Model Prayer (Matthew 6: 5-13) and what He wants from us is a prayer heart and full of sincerity.

3. I AM TOO BUSY TO PRAY

We have all used that one. Yet we have time for the game, time to call friends, time to do the yard. Others will say I have homework or to check the children’s work, I have been going since 5 AM and you want me to stop and pray. Well life is busy, but God has given us 24 hours each and every day. We should be good stewards of the hours He has given to us. Instead of that snack that you really don’t need talk to God, instead of that nap talk to God. Fit prayer in too. Maybe you need to take quick "prayer breaks" throughout your day to send up a prayer to heaven. When you purposefully do this, prayer will become an important part of your day.

4. MY MIND WANDERS WHEN I PRAY

Some of you know what I mean, "Wow, LaKeisha and Louis are getting married this week." "Oh my, that major project is due in on Monday." "We have the take home dinner at church Sunday and I am suppose to prepare some ox tail." Yes, many of us live this way when we pray "Inquiring minds want to know." Well be assured you are not alone. To avoid this concern, make a list of the things on your mind. Place the paper beside you while you focus on God. After you are through take a look at your paper. If your mind wanders, don’t give up. Make little notes for yourself, while bringing yourself back to God.

5. I HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING ON MY KNEES BESIDE MY BED

You might be amazed at some of the ways people in the Bible prayed. They did not just kneel by their beds with hands together and heads bowed. The real deal is these folks were talking, singing, shouting and making a joyful noise even with instruments. Sure they would bow and kneel in worship (Psalm 95:6), lift up their hands (Psalm 63: 4), clap (Psalm 47:1), walk and leap (Acts 3:7,8) and dance (Psalm 149:3). And true when they were feeling quiet they would pray silently or maybe at times just be still and wait while God spoke to them (Psalm 46:10). It is not about our posture but our purpose.

6. WHY PRAY GOD NEVER LISTENS ANYWAY

I have heard people say "Pastor G., it is hard to believe that God is interested in my prayers. I am sure He has more important things to do." And I say to them, believe it or not – NO. In God’s eyes you are the more important thing He has to do. God enjoys your prayers because He gets to spend time with you. The you know there is always that person that will say "Well Rev., if God is so interested, why can’t I recall the last time He answered? Maybe He just wasn’t listening." To that I say the fact that your prayers do not seem to have been answered does not mean that God is in need of a hearing aid. We often time pray for what we think is good for us, but God knows what we really need. He may at times say yes, other times no, and still other times He may say wait. He may answer your prayer in a way you will not recognize for some time, but when you do, you will see God’s answer and His timing are perfect.

7. Much PRAYER, much Power, little prayer, little power, no ------, no power.

Rev. Gregory Wilson, is the pastor of the Grant African Methodist Episcopal Church (Toronto, Ontario - Canada) and the PR Cousin African Methodist Episcopal Church (Mississauga, Ontario - Canada). He is also the founder and organizer of EAGLES Vision Ministries.  For Rev. Wilson's bio [Click Here] To correspond with Rev. Wilson you can reach him by email at: eagleny@yahoo.com)