Gospel Praying

I never want to forget!  In my years of ministry I have met many people who have lost their memories.   You see this happen among many elderly people.  They simply do not remember the past.   They don't recognize their loved ones anymore.  You might have a long chat with them on the phone, but moments later the memory of your call has faded.  It is no wonder, then, that the ancient preacher warned us to "remember your creator in the days of your youth." (Ecclesiastes 12:1)   There will come a time for many when "the golden bowl is broken" (12:6), when the brain no longer functions well!

So how does one remember?  How can you improve your memory?  If people were like computers I guess all you have to do is add some memory.  I was able to do this quite easily with my first computers.   If my computer had memory problems all I had to do is add another RAM (Random Access Memory) micro-chip to my computer and instantly the memory problem would be fixed.   But we are not computers.   So how do we improve our memory?   How do we remember our creator, not just in our youth, but always?

The key to unlocking personal memory is meditation!  Now when we think about meditating we might be thinking of Eastern religious practices such as Zen meditation, transcendental meditation, yoga, Chinese or Hindu meditation.  If I am on a Qantas flight and click on 'meditation' on my Qantas entertainment app, what I get is Eastern meditation.   The goal of such meditation is to empty your mind and assist you to focus on your inner emotions, your breathing, or your inner self.  But this is not what I am referring to.

The Bible encourages us as believers to meditate.  The LORD commands Joshua:"Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night." (Joshua 1:8)   The first Psalm reminds us that the path to a blessed life is marked by meditation.  Referring to the one blessed: "His delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night." (Psalm 1:2)  David writes:  "I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done." (Psalm 143:5)   Or as echoed earlier,  "I meditate on your name all night, GOD, treasuring your revelation, O GOD."  (Psalm 119:55 MSG)

Did you catch the difference?   Eastern meditation focuses on emptying one's mind;  Biblical meditation focuses on filling one's mind!   Filling one's mind with God's Word and remembering all that he has done.   Eastern meditation focuses on one's self; Biblical meditation focuses on God, and God alone!   As David admits in Psalm 63:6:  "On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night."   Not me, myself, and I!   I think of you.  I remember God.   I meditate on his name!

How can you improve your memory?  Here is a simple formula:  Gospel + prayer = improved memory.  When you pray, use the gospel, the good news of God, the good things of God to shape your prayers.   A good example of this is the prayer of David in Psalm 103.  He speaks to his inner self, his soul, his inmost being and he tells his soul not to forget all of God's benefits, all the good that God has done! (vv. 1-2).   David speaks directly to his inner self and reminds his soul of the good news that God forgives all our sins, heals all our diseases, redeems our life from the pit, and crowns us with love and compassion.   In fact, God satisfies us with good things. (vv. 3-5)  And for rest of the Psalm David simply repeats over and over again how God has been good to us.  Imagine if this is how you shaped your prayers -- simply recounting over and over again how God has to good to you!   Tell your inner self how Jesus has redeemed you through his death and resurrection.   Recount the promises of God, how by His Spirit he abides in you and you in Him.  Work the Gospel into your own heart by meditating on God and all that he has done.  Such meditation will change you, transform you!  As David admits, "my youth is renewed like the eagle's" (v. 5). 

As churches we know the importance of prayer!  But notice our focus is "to call upon God for such an outpouring of his Spirit that his people will be assured of his love through his Word...."   The gospel, God's Word, needs to shape our prayers assuring us of his love.  Our prayers are not a grocery type list of the things that you want God to do for you.   Rather our prayers are to be an exhaustive list of all that God has done for us - in Christ, by His Spirit, for His glory!   When we allow the gospel to shape our prayers our hearts are (re)kindled, set ablaze with hope.  And like an eagle, we will not grow tired or weary -- instead we will discover strength for the weary and power for the weak (Isaiah 40:28-29). 

Fill your prayers with meditation.   Meditate on God and all his goodness to you, to us!    And you will not forget.