Only when I pray is a short series of thought-provoking reflections based loosely around the theme of prayer as found in Luke 11:1-13.

Today’s reading is from 1 Samuel 3:1-10

1 - 5 The boy Samuel served the [Lord] under the direction of Eli. In those days the [Lord] didn’t give many messages to his people. He didn’t give them many visions. One night Eli was lying down in his usual place. His eyes were becoming so weak he couldn’t see very well. Samuel was lying down in the [Lord]’s house. That’s where the ark of God was kept. The lamp of God was still burning. The [Lord] called out to Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” He ran over to Eli and said, “Here I am. You called out to me.” But Eli said, “I didn’t call you. Go back and lie down.” So, he went and lay down. NIRV

6 – 10 [God] called again, “Samuel, Samuel!” Samuel got up and went to Eli, “I heard you call. Here I am.” Again, Eli said, “Son, I didn’t call you. Go back to bed.” (This all happened before Samuel knew [God] for himself. It was before the revelation of [God] had been given to him personally.) [God] called again, “Samuel!”—the third time! Yet again Samuel got up and went to Eli, “Yes? I heard you call me. Here I am.” That’s when it dawned on Eli that [God] was calling the boy. So, Eli directed Samuel, “Go back and lie down. If the voice calls again, say, ‘Speak, [God]. I’m your servant, ready to listen.’” Samuel returned to his bed. Then [God] came and stood before him exactly as before, calling out, “Samuel! Samuel!” Samuel answered, “Speak. I’m your servant, I’m ready to listen.” The Message

Today’s reflection as you may have picked up from the reading is about listening, or, more to the point, being ready to listen. There’s a difference.

Here’s a quick look also at Luke 11:1 where you will note what the disciple said to Jesus;

“Teach us to pray just as John taught his disciples.”

This from The Message, but almost every other translation uses this phrase in exactly the same way – teach us to pray!

The Living Bible, however, puts a slightly different twist on it as it says, “Lord, teach us a prayer to recite…” perhaps lending emphasis toward the Lord’s Prayer which we have all recited since our childhood.

Either way, the disciples’ request indicates a desire to learn; and a desire to learn implies the disciple/s would have to pay attention to what Jesus would teach in regard to prayer – i.e. it required them listening to what Jesus would have to say.

Listen now to today’s song, Teach me to pray

Okay, personal confession time! Making time for prayer is something that does not come easy to me. Let me rephrase that; making time isn’t precisely the problem, it’s just that when I’ve taken the time and I’m sitting down comfortably, consciously choosing to have a prayer time – i.e. when I’m “poised and ready” – my mind goes off on a veritable world tour of randomness. Thoughts swirl, faces, places, situations and ideas jump in-and-out of my head while I wrestle (often unsuccessfully) with trying to close out the clutter, to be still and to get my mind purposefully back on track.

My most fruitful (and mind-cleansing) times with God have always been when I open my Bible and ask God to reveal something that He wants me to hear, learn from, pursue, compose or share with a friend. Is this prayer? Some would argue that it is not specifically prayer – but it is communication!

By way of example, this series, Only when I pray, is a jumble of thoughts that were all sparked from reading into Luke 11:1-13. On the surface, the randomness of each song, reading and reflection may well appear just so, but it is all connected, albeit tenuously, through my reading of this scripture.

Today’s song is, for me, a perfect example of what I like to call cohesive randomness with the words expressing how my churning thoughts touch on so many seemingly unconnected themes.

Verse 1 – Looking for words that represent my/your thoughts. Hoping to find a way to express them. Feeling like a “victim” in some way, under attack from the accusing words (by Satan) of one’s worthlessness.

Verse 2 – Reflecting on one’s youth, acknowledging I/we probably didn’t listen to or obey all that we should have. Searching for new ways to stay connected/reconnect with the Lord. Knowing we need to hear His voice (and remember, to do that we need to listen).

Verse 3 – Looking around at the problems that face the world, things that break our hearts – poverty, hunger, thirst, disease, children dying for want of the simple things we take for granted.

And the chorus – an appeal to the Lord, a desire for Him to teach me/us how to pray. To really hear from God, hear his voice. To be certain that it is His voice. And to be effective (and fully charged) as a Christian.

Prayer doesn’t always require us talking, but it does always require us being ready to listen.