A Definition of Prayer

There are many people who think they should pray more consistently or intentionally or in some different way. The common theme is they think they should pray. Prayer seems like something that has to be learned, worked at. It feels like a duty. 

The title for the journal, Pour Out Your Heart is taken from Psalm 62:8 - my favorite Biblical description of prayer.

In this Psalm, David goes back and forth between the desperate straits where he finds himself and the “only-ness” of God.

David is up against  deceitful, self-serving, people who are trying to ruin him. They are ruthless and competitive - they are taking advantage of his frailties. 

He is aware that life is short, people are deluded about their strength and importance. People cannot be trusted and riches do not bring security.

He realizes that the schemes of men (extortion, robbery, get rich quick schemes) will not work when fighting scheming men, that it is never a good idea to “lean on your own understanding.”

He asserts that he will not be shaken by the evil he experiences because God’s help is unequaled, unrivaled. No one else, nothing else can be to him a rock, a fortress, a refuge -his protection and safety. No one else, nothing else can be the salvation, deliverer or hope for mankind. God alone is where David knew he could find strength and certainty. 

In the middle of this Psalm, he turns to give instruction to his listeners. He tells them how they too cannot be shaken in difficult times.

Trust in him at all time, O People,

Pour out your heart before him;

God is a refuge for us.    

How does a person of faith demonstrate her trust in God? 

By pouring out of her heart before God - putting into words all that is on one's hearts. When we talk to God about our hopes and fears, we testify to our dependency on Him because He alone is able to answer.

“Prayer is not so much an act as it is an attitude - an attitude of dependency, dependency upon God.  Prayer is confession of creature weakness, yea, or helplessness. . .”  (A.W.Pink)

“The clearest mark of their humble, God-dependent spirits is their dedication to prayer.”  (Tautges)

This is prayer. 

When my heart is heavily weighed down or bubbling with joy, when it is dark with doubt and fear or perplexed by the unknown, I come to Him who alone is my strength and refuge and tell Him everything.