Making Our Prayers More Vital

“At evening, morning, and midday I complain and moan so that God will hear my voice.” Psalm 55:17 (Common English Bible)

Framed on my desk is a picture of Eeyore, a character from the Winnie the Pooh stories who is the ever-glum, pessimistic, and sarcastic donkey friend of Pooh. The picture is part of a larger running tease I have with my wife. Frequently, I remind her that my hero is Eeyore simply because he understands me. When I encounter difficulties or obstacles that must be overcome, I imitate the glum voice of Eeyore, saying something like, “It’s no use. I simply can’t manage this setback.” In truth, I find humor in this performance of Eeyore. My wife really doesn’t. With a roll of her eyes, she simply walks away. Imagine my delight when I encountered this passage from Psalm 55:17, “At evening, morning, and midday I complain and moan.” Reading these words to my wife, I exclaimed, “The Bible really gets me!” I received the same reaction from her; she rolled her eyes and walked away.

Recently, I shared lunch with a friend and told him about my fascination with the character, Eeyore. His response resulted in a major disruption of my running tease, “Eeyore may be the most courageous character in the Winnie the Pooh stories.”[i] Bill went on to say that even though Eeyore was certainly a pessimist and always complaining and moaning, he stays in community with his friends. He shows up for them, participates with them in shared adventures, and can be counted on whenever any one of them needs him. Eeyore doesn’t disconnect because of his glum outlook. There is a commitment to his friends that is stronger than what he may be feeling. Eeyore does not allow his mood to be the arbiter of his relationship with others. Numbness and unconcern are rejected by Eeyore, for he realizes that there remains worth in this life; his relationship with those who love him.

Eeyore’s refusal to surrender to withdrawal, resignation, and defeat in life is captured in these words from Psalm 55:17, “At evening, morning, and midday I complain and moan so that God will hear my voice.” Complaint and moaning are not verbal self-pity as one might suppose. Rather, they are a prayer! They are a prayer that is made continuously: “at evening, morning, and midday.” These words are a precursor to Jesus’ own teaching in Luke’s Gospel of our need to pray continuously and not be discouraged.[ii] The Psalmist is not discouraged. The Psalmist’s continuous prayer is a demonstration of faith in the absolute fidelity of a loving God. Keeping Godward channels open by frequent prayer builds and strengthens a relationship with God that brings its own gift, the knowledge that, come what may in this life, we do not move through life alone.

As though opening a can of condensed milk, we now discover that compressed into sixteen words is the formula for making our prayers more vital. First, time for prayer is prioritized. Each day is an opportunity to strengthen a relationship with God. Relationships are never built with the occasional visit or telephone call. Nor is a relationship with God. Even the busiest person will find time for prayer if they really want to. Second, prayer fills the day, “at evening, morning, and midday.” This doesn’t mean speaking to God without interruption. It does mean a continual awareness of God’s presence, who might be addressed at any moment. Third, prayer isn’t bound to our mood. Forgetting prayer until a better mood arrives fails to understand that it is precisely when our mood is all wrong that we need God. Eeyore never fails to be available for his friends. Nor are we to fail to remain in community with God, through prayer. For this is a basic condition of a vital prayer life.

Joy,

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[i] Appreciation to Bill Bathurst for this observation.

[ii] Luke 18:1 (Common English Bible)