Celebration of Discipline: Prayer (for the right-brainer)

Confession time:  When I hear people say they experience "the power of prayer," I'm envious.  Most of the time, I feel like I'm talking to myself.  I try to devote part of my morning quiet time to prayer, but I rarely seem to get past, "Lord, thank you for this day."  Then my mind wanders to some lines from hymns or psalms, and then I'm officially distracted by "what should I do next?"  

Meditation and contemplation come more easily.  Praying with a friend or small group comes more easily, as does shooting up brief arrows of prayer in moments of need.  Is there something I am missing in personal prayer?  I suspect it is the discipline of it, like exercising a muscle that only becomes stronger with use.  

Richard Foster, in his chapter on the discipline of prayer, gives me two very useful tools for personal prayer.  First, he suggests engaging the imagination by asking God for pictures during prayer.  I'm guessing that Foster is a right-brainer, like me, opposed to prayer check lists and daily guides, and more inspired by art and metaphor.

I tried it out this week, and as I prayed for my son, God gave me a picture of a shield around this beloved young man.  I smiled, thinking of Noah's recent performance in Camelot as King Arthur, bearing a sword and shield.  This picture was further confirmed by my subsequent reading of Psalm 5 that morning, which ends with "For you bless the godly, O LORD, surrounding them with your shield of love."  Big smile!

This was a glimpse into the power of prayer.  A picture.  A scripture to confirm it.  A rush of gratitude in response.  The prayer muscle strengthened.  

The second tool is to pray expectantly.  I so often pray half-heartedly, using sacred powerful words like bless, help, protect, and guide in a routine way, as if I'm reciting from some bank of acceptable prayer words.  But if I slow down and picture an actual hand of blessing on a person, a literal grip of help, a strong shield of protection, and a guiding light upon a dark path, now there is something different.  If I become specific in my desires and as bold as the psalmists, now there is power.  If I devote myself to listening and watching for clues that God is working and answering the cries of my heart, now there is the key to unlock the mystery of the power of prayer.