What Tools Do
Humans have always used tools, it’s part of what makes us who we are. There are some animals that fashion and use tools for certain jobs, but humans have perfected the art of extending our capabilities and will through the use of tools. Every distinctive human behavior requires tools – farming, cooking, learning, building, and the list could go on. Tools help us get the job done. Construction workers are unsuited for the job without a hammer. People in business are ill-fit for the changing marketplaces without the proper technology. Where would our beloved baristas be without an espresso machine? Tools transform our will into effective action.
Eugene Peterson (pastor, poet, and Bible translator) thought about prayers as tools. But according to Peterson prayer is not about us enacting our will, but rather, “prayers are tools that God uses to work his will in our bodies and souls. Prayers are tools that we use to collaborate in his work with us.”
The question is, what kind of work does God want to do in you through prayer?
Below are three ways prayer can be used as a tool to shape who we are becoming one day at a time.
Slow Down
There is no doubt about it, life is busy. Our inboxes are constantly full, the kids’ calendars evolve moment by moment, and don’t forget about those seconds of uninterrupted bliss that must be busied with mindless scrolling searching for some peace.
Busyness isn’t always bad – there is a lot to do. But there is a problem with busyness – busyness blocks beauty.
You know the expression, “stop and smell the roses”? The idea is that there is something about a rose that deserves more attention. Roses are obviously visually beautiful. Their stunning blooms have been admired forever. But there is more to a rose than its appearance. A rose has a complex aroma and a unique physical texture. Roses are living organisms that grow, bloom, wilt, and go back to the dirt. Roses are momentary and therefore capture a particular piece to time that will never be repeated. To busy past a rose, only noticing it’s shape or color is to miss its essential beauty. So, the expression to stop and smell the roses is a plea to slow down, to not allow busyness to block beauty.
Prayer is a similar plea. Prayer doesn’t work very well in a rush because prayer is a tool to the transcendent. It is a bridge from our day-to-day life to the heavenly plane of the Kingdom of God. Now, there is nothing wrong with quick consistent prayers for focus, hope, or peace throughout the day. We are not talking about length of time (there are, after all, only 53 words in the Lord’s Prayer). What we are talking about is an embodied perspective. Prayer is meant to physically connect us with God and if our bodies and minds are constantly in a rush, we might miss the beauty that God has in store for us.
So, slow down and smell the roses.
Silence
Jesus said, “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” (Matt. 6:5-7)
Silence can be a harsh tool. Think of it like a surgical knife, very sharp, very dangerous, very exposing, and could possibly save your life. In an age of noise cancelling headphones and sound machines for sleep we have become so accustomed to blocking out sound with anything but silence. Prayer welcomes us into the world of silence to meet with God, to confess, and heal. This is what Jesus means when he talks about a “reward”. This does not mean that God will give you whatever you want if you pray in a silent place. The silence is the reward.
You can find silence in nature, in a quiet moment in the car before going into the office, or with a friend who is willing to sit with you. Silence can be found, even in our noisy lives. But be ready to allow God to do some soul surgery in silence.
Service
Prayer can become all about us. If we’re not careful we can spend all our time with God focused on our problems, our questions, and our concerns. While God is certainly able to hold space for all that we bring to him the point of prayer is about more than just us. We are meant to pray to prepare us for real world living.
Prayer offers perspective. If we can slow down and sit with God in the silence of our lives, there is often a gratitude that is produced. The joy of the Lord becomes our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). But we do not use strength to activate our will over others. The strength that comes from the Lord is a generous strength. It seeks to give and to give back.
We must not allow our prayers to become so consumed with our own narrow perspective, but rather invite God to give us his strength, lift our eyes, and show us where we can be the most useful.
Conclusion
Paul simplified God’s will for our life by saying, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
This summary of the Christian life is a picture of a life at peace. Sure, we will face challenges, difficulties, disappointments, and even death eventually. But God has given us a tool to infuse our busy, self-absorbed, noisy lives with silence, slowness, and service. Prayer is a tool that has the potential to bring about a citadel of peace in our souls. But, just like any tool, it’s only effective if it’s used.
