A Father's Gift of Prayer

A Father’s Gift of Prayer

Tommy Boone

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© 2011 Tommy Boone. All rights reserved.

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First published by AuthorHouse 7/28/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4224-9 (e)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4225-6 (sc)

Printed in the United States of America

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Contents

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

1

What is Prayer?

2

Raising Our Will to

God in Prayer

3

Praying and Faith

4

Teach Me How to Pray

5

Finding Time to Pray

6

Forgiving Others in Prayer

7

Teach Us to

Pray Through Writing

8

Husbands and Wives

9

Prayer and My Family

10

Why Pray?

11

Pray as You Can

12

Prayer is a Dynamic Process

13

Prayer and the

Eternal Companion

14

Prayer, Death, and Life:

Grave or Heaven

15

Prayer is a Gift of Love

16

The Power of Prayer

17

Earnest Prayers

18

Praying in Faith

19

Prayer and Salvation

20

Unanswered Prayers

21

A Father’s Gift of Prayer

22

Prayers of Yesterday

Epilogue:

The Power of Prayer

Short Bibliography

Foreword

THIS BOOK COMES at a critical time. As we are just getting into the 21st century, we are already witnessing a remarkable need to keep families together. Fathers and mothers face a great deal of challenges and decisions about their relationship and the raising of children. The success of marriage is not guaranteed by any means. If it succeeds, there are often indicators for having done so. One such indicator is the role Jesus Christ plays in their personal and married lives.

Prayer is extremely important to a Father’s spiritual life. To pray is to connect with God. It is a transforming relationship because it brings us closer to God. Of course this is common knowledge, but do you believe it? Do you desire the encounter with God? Do you long to look within yourself, to look deeply within, and to learn the power of God? Praying opens the door of possibilities. Prayer gives all of us hope.

There is no one way to pray. All prayer is talking and sharing time with God. Our prayers move the heart of God. Within us is the power of God to prepare us for a journey of prayer. Holy is his Name for the Kingdom of God is within you. Go into yourself and enter into a relationship with God. As Psalms 91:2 says, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.

It is crystal clear that the failure to pray and, in particular, the failure of the father to pray is at the root of many problems in the family. This is true even though the person is said to be a nice father otherwise. The products of prayer are too numerous to not want as part of a family tree. Of necessity, during these times, prayer is critical to getting along as parents teach their children about God.

Douglas MacArthur said: By profession I am a soldier and take pride in that fact. But I am prouder to be a father. My hope is that my son, when I am gone, will remember me not from the battle, but in the home, repeating with him one simple prayer, ‘Our Father which art in heaven.’

One of the hallmarks of a Christian family is the teachings of Jesus Christ. John 3:16-17 says, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. The profound point of this scripture that rings the loudest of many points is this: Knowing that by faith your wife and children are saved and will live after death in heaven forever!

This is the gift of goodwill, love, and loyalty that transcends everything else in life. Why people reject faith is hard to understand. In fact, it is a dilemma of the soul that is strategically the wrong path forever without peace or hope of salvation. Jesus said, Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid [John 14:27].

The good news is God loves us and encourages us to take the right path. The bad news is that far too many people take the wrong path. The implications are clear; namely, the very strategy that keeps families together isn’t used or even acknowledged as having value. God is not part of the infrastructure of many families throughout the United States. As a result, the demise of ethical thinking and moral development influences both the individual and the family.

The most likely scenario is that we think we are so special, powerful, and smart that we don’t need God. After all, look what we have created. In the end, the human race itself, it seems, views its destination entirely within their hands and not that of God. This kind of thinking will not save the world. Perhaps, it is a failure to grasp the ultimate importance of the Bible. In particular, If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved [Romans 10:9].

Not thinking of himself as a father, he goes about his business at a relentless pace. Constantly dealing and reshaping deals to glorify the bottom line. The pace is driven by ever-shifting and increasingly more complex responsibilities that often remove the father’s role from involvement with the family. And yet, in an era of increased need for forgiveness and compassionate parents, parents and children are less transformed by goodwill as they are by bad will.

I am asked about my faith in Jesus Christ and whether I think praying makes a difference in my life. I believe that it does. What is most important is having faith that Jesus is the Son of God and that He plays a role in my life at all times. Faith also gives me the assurance that fathers who pray will be better parents. It is all about faith and asking for help from Jesus Christ. In John 16:24, Jesus said, Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.

As a father, why not pray this prayer? Dear Jesus, it is clear that I have been going down the wrong path. I admit that on most days I am thinking about work. I haven’t hit bottom, but I am sure to get there if I don’t change. I haven’t prayed much lately, but I know I should. I feel that my children are craving the wrong things. Help me Dear Jesus to get my life back. Forgive me for my arrogance. I know that I need to be a better person and a better father. I am a sinner in need of forgiveness. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you are the only way to Heaven. I believe you are the only one who can help me. Please help me to bring peace within my family. Please cleanse me of my sins. Come into my life. Be with our children. You are the only one who can save and forgive us. In your name, Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Virginia (Ginger) Aaron

Dothan, AL

Preface

AS A FATHER, I have struggled with prayer. I think other fathers have difficulty with prayer, too. We do not know how to pray. So we pray very little and we feel badly about it. But, as is often the case, rather than doing something about it, we surrender ourselves to life’s work, activities, and distractions.

God wants us to pray, to find time to pray, and to move in the rhythm of God. If we do so, we can expect great things. God will manifest himself before us, giving us hope and guidance. His presence will grow with us and with those we love and care about. As Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, The more we pray, the more we shall want to pray. The more we pray, the more we can pray. The more we pray, the more we shall pray.

Jesus said that he who looks will find, who asks will receive, who knocks will have the door opened to him. In other words, God is with us and is always listening to us. Prayer is not limited to a few sanctified souls. God is our God, just as He is the pastor’s God. Yes, we pray or talk to God just as a preacher does. I believe God aligns himself with each of us as a special human being; a creature He created. After all, we are all made in the Image of God. We are special. But, most importantly, we must establish our relationship with God. We do that through prayer! How? By listening to God and, yes, it takes courage at times to depart from the common way of thinking and living. But, it is equally clear that prayer changes us. Prayer reminds us of God’s plan for us. Prayer is the beginning of knowing what is good for us, that God loves us, and that God is within each of us. He speaks to us through his Word and, yes, through finding meaning in life.

What are the prayers that fathers pray? Does a father pray because he is afraid that harm will come to his family? What about his belief that prayer keeps his family safe? I believe fathers pray because they love their children. They don’t want any harm to come to them. The more fathers pray the less they worry. They know that in times of suffering, sin, and death God is with them, inspires them, and loves them. Also, as a father, there is a certain peace in understanding that every prayer is an invitation to God to come into my life.

My reality with prayer is simple and to the point. Prayer is a matter of conviction. It is what I believe. That is why I reach out to God in prayer. I need to connect with God. It is my expectation that I will pray more often. God knows my heart and my needs. God is my savior and my strength. When I am stressed, I say a prayer to relax me and to strengthen me, to focus me, and to commit me to doing what must be done.

I am grateful for my relationship with God. It is no accident that I pray to protect my family. Prayer reduces my stress. It increases my confidence that life, as God planned it, will come together accordingly. I strongly urge you to reach out in prayer. Write down your good thoughts and your concerns. Share them with God. As Charles Haddon Spurgeon said, If you are sure it is a right thing for which you are asking, plead now, plead at noon, plead at night, plead on. With cries and tears spread out your case.

This book is a father’s gift of prayer. It may be used as a guide to personal prayer and reflection. Although you will find prayers for different occasions, it is important to remember that prayer is something we give ourselves over to. It is very much like other learning to think. We learn to think by thinking, just as we learn to write by writing. And so it is with prayer: we learn to pray by praying. So share the act of praying with your family at the dinner table, either at bedtime or before bed, or daily wherever. No special moment, day, or time is necessary to pray to God.

You will find a peace of mind as one of the blessings that come from praying. Abraham Lincoln said it this way, I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. Ever felt that way? Without a faith, there is no commitment. But, with faith in prayer, there is a strong commitment to pray. Beliefs communicate a deep sense of faith. The prayers in the book are based on my belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God. That is why I believe and why I wrote the following prayer as a declaration of my faith in Jesus Christ.

I believe in Jesus Christ. I believe that He is the Son of God. I believe Jesus Christ died for my sins. I believe He is now with God in Heaven. I believe He will judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in forgiveness of sins. I believe in everlasting life with God in Heaven. I believe God cares for us and gives us hope. I believe God watches over us. I believe in renouncing Satan and evil spirits. I believe in sharing my beliefs with others. I believe in trusting God to guide me and to help all of us to be better people. I believe we are God’s children. Amen.

Tommy Boone, PhD, MPH, MAM, MBA

Duluth, MN

Acknowledgments

T O PUT THIS book in perspective, A Father’s Gift of Prayer, it is dedicated to my family: To my wife, Brenda (a special lady, thank you God); to my son, William T. Boone, Jr. (a great thinker); and to my daughter, Tara Boone (a disciplined marathoner and the mother of Ashby and Roe and wife to Aaron). Tara did a great job of editing the original manuscript. My greatest desire is that each one will get the message, as Joni Eareckson Tada said, The more you pray, the more you will understand, the more joy you will have, and the more you will know the greatness of our God.

The truth is that I have learned a lot from reading many different books written by experts on the subject of prayer. I would like to express my appreciation to them for their work. They have helped me understand that there is no one way to pray. Rather, the path of Christian spirituality calls for the willingness of each person to engage in prayer to learn of his or her true spiritual identity. God doesn’t want us to walk away from ourselves nor will God walk away from us. As Philippians 4:6-7 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Lastly, I want to thank my sister, Virginia Aaron. Without her guidance and constant spiritual influence through countless emails and conversations, this book would not have been possible. Many of the quotes throughout the book were written by Ginger, especially the quotes in the front matter. She would say, You can trust God. After all, it is in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.

1

What is Prayer?

IN ADDITION TO the Bible urging us to pray, there are many reasons to pray. My experience includes primarily asking God to forgive me for my sins and to help me do those things that please Him. Jesus taught in Ephesians 6:18, …be alert and always keep on praying…. There are other reasons. Prayer is the way to a personal relationship with God. Prayer allows for the awareness of God’s presence within us. Of course, even though no one has seen God, Christ Jesus tells us to ask, to seek, and to knock. When we do, we pray in faith. After all, we need God’s help to deal with our problems, fears and desires. So, again, why should we pray? Basil C. Butler, author of Prayer in Practice, says that, We pray in order…to make actual a relationship of our will to His which is consonant with the fact of our utter dependence on Him, and this relationship of our will to His is something that He desires of us.

NO MAGIC FORMULA FOR PRAYER

When we pray, we look to God to forgive us of our sins. This is the point of 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. It can be a short prayer or a long prayer with many words. Either prayer is a walk with God as long it is in accordance with His will. There is no magic formula for praying. It can be read from a script or it can be spontaneous. When done in confidence and faith