Christ: The Source of the Flowing River of Prayer

WHAT, THEN, IS PRAYER?

I fear that too many of us approach prayer with a mental picture of ourselves making a laborious attempt to come before God. Perhaps we have a picture of ourselves trying (and mostly failing) to get God’s attention. Either way, the effort is all ours. The distance between heaven and earth appears too far to bridge. Our burdens seem trivial, dwarfed by God’s vastness. They are lost in the cacophony of prayers being made across the planet at any given moment.

I’ve learned that prayer is not about little people waving their puny arms in God’s face. Nor is prayer like my small voice pushing aside all others to reach God’s ear.

PRAYER IS LIKE A RIVER WITH CHRIST AS ITS SOURCE

Rather, prayer is like a river. It is constantly flowing, and we are not its source. Its source is the Christ who was raised to life (Romans 8:34), for we know He is at the right hand of God…interceding for us.

To pray is to step into the rushing water.

Even the words we say are not our own. We pray as Christ did: Abba, Father. Instead of distance, there is the intimacy of family.

What if we have no words? We groan, but even in this, we are not alone. Our groan joins that of creation…and who can doubt that creation groans (Romans 8:22-23)? Even better, our groans echo in God’s heart, for the Spirit intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express (Romans 8:26), and our pain and uncertainty are transformed by God himself into powerful, purposeful prayer.

Quieting myself, I can hear the sound of the river. It is the sound of God singing over us, and His voice is like the sound of rushing waters (Zephaniah 3:17, Revelation 1:15).

FINDING THIS RIVER OF PRAYER

How do we find this river? How do we hear its voice? Most importantly, how do we jump in? I’m not sure that I’ve figured it out. All I know with certainty is that the river is there, and sometimes finds its way to me.

I recently attended a women’s monthly worship service focused on the arts. Women sang, danced, spoke, and painted—yes, painted.

Some of us took Sharpie markers and wrote our prayers on one of several large, blank canvases. Of course, I wrote the name of my boy, the word fear, and the word food. Then, the painters began to pray and create, and our words were caught up in swirls of color.

By the end of the service, the canvas I had chosen (or the canvas chosen for me?) was covered in a wild rush of water. The artist’s brush had spelled out across it: The Healing River Flows.

CHRIST THE SOURCE OF PRAYER

How could I ever think that my prayer for healing is mine alone—or even that I am its source?

The source of my prayer is Christ, the same one who gave me the words: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God (Psalm 46:4) when I first prayed for a child. Back then, I read those words and knew that my prayer had been answered.

Now I know that answered is not the best word-picture for what sometimes happens when we pray. Instead, it is less like being spoken to and more like being swept away by water that was always already pushing in the direction we longed to go.

We don’t need to fight to get God’s attention. We do need to remember that our Savior, with a voice like water, has never stopped praying over us.

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb … (Revelation 22:1)

First published at ChristiePurifoy.com. Published with permission.

Prayer

Father, sometimes we can think that prayer depends on us, that we must gain Your attention. Remind us that You care for each of us and have time to hear us when we talk to You, cry to You, or even groan. Remind us that prayer is the constantly flowing river of Your heart toward us. Thank You, Jesus, for being constantly present and interceding for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Questions For Reflection

1. Today, we have two special printables for you: Prayers for the Journey and Make Your Life A Prayer. Each is filled with thoughtful quotes, encouraging Scripture, and inspiring prayers. Which words speak directly to your heart?
2. How (or when) have you been drawn into prayer, words flowing from the heart of God to you, His precious child?
3. Reflect on the idea that Prayer is like a river… constantly flowing… Think about those words as you move through your day. Pray through them. Journal about them. What do you hear God saying?