Your Kingdom Come

Which is the better way to pray, from a pre-written prayer or a prayer you make up on the spot from your heart (sometimes called an ex corde prayer)? This is one of those trick questions; both kind of prayers are good. We know we can pray to God because Jesus’ death and resurrection has given us peace with our heavenly Father and access to his throne in prayer. (Eph. 2:14-18)

Sometimes, though, I’ve noticed that pre-written prayers are thought to be inferior by some. The argument goes that you’re just reading words on the page or reciting them from memory; you’re not really praying. The same people say that ex corde prayers are truly God-pleasing prayers, flowing out of your heart of faith.

This kind of argument completely misses the point. There are strengths and weaknesses of both kinds of prayers. While ex corde prayers can express our own faith very well from our heart, they can also be selfish and repetitive, focusing on our felt-needs at the moment rather than God’s eternal will for us.

Written prayers can certainly be read or recited mindlessly, where they just become sounds and syllables instead of an actual prayer. But, pre-written prayers also have a great benefit. Jesus demonstrated this by giving his disciples and us an example of how to pray with the Lord’s prayer. (Matt. 6:9-13) This prayer is a masterfully succinct way of seeking God’s will in our lives and asking for the blessings he has promised to give us.

I’ve been using some pre-written prayers in my own prayer life lately that I’ve found very helpful. Specifically, I’ve been using prayers based on Martin Luther’s prayers and meditations on the Lord’s prayer. These prayers are found in the book, Christian Worship: Pastor’s Companion. (NPH. Milwaukee, WI. 2004) There is a separate short prayer for each petition of the Lord’s prayer. Hopefully this excerpt will help to show how helpful pre-written prayers can be.

Your Kingdom Come

Rule, dear Lord, in the midst of your enemies! Topple every idol throne and every power that raises itself up as a rival to you, both inside our own souls and outside us in the world. Create your kingdom of peace out of the chaos of our hearts. Give us a true and lasting faith in Christ and a fearless hope in your mercy. Help us by your Holy Spirit that we may judge and understand all things not by our own fallen vision, or human sense, but by your Word, which alone is truth. Enable us with all power that you supply to spread your kingdom of grace throughout the world. Produce the Spirit’s fruit in us while we wait here in hope for your appearing.

Blessings to you in your life of prayer.

Attend To and Abide With the Word

Sometimes people mistakenly think that Lutherans worship Martin Luther, or that Luther somehow spoke like an oracle whose words must be prized above all others. That’s not how it works, though. Luther pointed, not to his own words, but to God’s Word. In the same way, we use Luther’s writings today, not because they are Luther’s words, but because they expound on and point to God’s Word, which hold out Jesus Christ and his life and death as the only way of salvation.

So, I was excited recently to get the newest volume of the American Edition of Luther’s Works.  The entire book is sermons relating to John 17-20. I’ve just started reading it, but it has been excellent so far. The following quote shows Luther’s attitude from and about God’s Word.

I have given this admonition already and must repeat it often, for we see that Christ sets such importance on it that He constantly repeats the same thing, showing abundantly how supremely necessary it is that above all else we attend to and abide with the Word…Whatever shame may accordingly fall upon us, we will have the injury abundantly made good by this treasure. For this is what crushes Satan’s head [Gen. 3:15], that is, what destroys his kingdom and all his might…In short, no holy life, righteousness, or wisdom avails against his power and might, but only this Word. Therefore, it should be our greatest concern that we not let ourselves be torn away from it. For that is what [Satan] strives for and seeks with all his thoughts and powers. Whoever perseveres in [the Word], takes thought for it, and prays for it has the comfort here through Christ’s prayer [in John 17:8] that he will remain steadfast in it, and no power will accomplish anything against it.

(Luther’s Works, Volume 69, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis. 2009, p. 66)

This quote reminds me of Peter’s description of the devil: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9, ESV).

Thankfully, God gives us something to keep us firm in our faith in Christ. Lord, keep us steadfast in your Word!