It’s Epiphanytide. I would like Jesus to make himself manifest — more obvious — to me and to the people for whom I pray. How? Here’s a good way:
Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints. [Christian Standard Bible (Eph 6:18). (2020). Holman Bible Publishers.]
I have heard it said that praying “in The Spirit” can’t be done from books. I used to think that myself. I am now convinced that praying “in The Spirit” can be done both with — and without — books.
I also believe there is a fair amount of praying with and without books that is not “in the Spirit.” Prayer is more a matter of the heart and of The LORD’s leading than a matter of books, or not. But
books can help. Written words of prayer can be savoured and dwelled upon. They can be repeated and learned by heart.
Often, for example, one of my spontaneous prayers for someone or something is enriched by a phrase or an idea that comes from a Prayer Book prayer that has soaked into my heart and memory. For example, I will often pray for my loved ones using words from The Collect for Protection in Compline:
VISIT (or make yourself manifest), we beseech thee, O Lord, this place (and the places where my family and friends live, parishes, synods, meetings, etc, etc), and drive from it (them) all the snares of the enemy; let thy holy angels dwell herein to preserve us (them) in peace; and may thy blessing be upon us (them) evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p726).
To that I often add, from the Forms of Prayer to be Used at Sea—yes, the Canadian Book of Common Prayer includes such a thing — the following, depending on the proximity of those for whom I am praying:
Prayer for Home and Loved Ones.
O GOD, who art present (or is manifest) in every place: Look down with thy mercy upon those whom we love, now absent from us; give thine angels charge over them, and defend them from all dangers of body and soul; bring us together again, if it be thy holy will; grant that both they and we, drawing nearer to thee, may draw nearer to one another, and in the end, united in thy presence, may evermore rejoice together in our heavenly home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p633)
I especially love “visit their homes and drive from them all the snares of the enemy,” and “preserve us in peace” from Compline and that The LORD “will give thine angels charge over them, and defend them from all dangers of body and soul” from a Prayer for Home and Loved Ones.
Okay. I admit. I pray you instead of thee, and your rather than thy and thine. But what perfectly wonderful, beautifully composed prayers! What more could I ever need to ask? I don’t see how I could improve on those intercessory sentiments. It’s exactly what I would like The LORD to do manifestly, from the heart and earnestly.
Using the Prayer Books as systematic tools for prayer will not only manifestly enrich your devotional life, but they will improve your prayer vocabulary and have you praying for things you wouldn’t necessarily have thought about on your own.
