PASTOR’S CORNER

+ “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” (Martin Luther) +

Into the Autumn months now we go, and October is upon us – the beginning of “the holidays.” We round out the month with our annual observance of Halloween, a secular holiday on the same day as an important religious holiday – the Reformation. In the past, we have offered suggestions for your prayers; this month, I would like to focus on Martin Luther’s ideas and thoughts on the topic, and some suggestions regarding our prayer life.

For Martin Luther, prayer is essential to the Christian life, as natural and as necessary as breathing, and a means to align with God’s mercy and guidance. He emphasizes that prayer is commanded by God, who promises to hear us, and this makes it a central part of the Christian life. As he states in his Small Catechism, in the conclusion to the Lord’s Prayer: “…we are certain that such petitions are pleasing to our Father in heaven and are heard by him. For he himself has commanded us to pray…and has promised to hear us.”

Luther believes that prayer is not about human worthiness but about God’s grace and mercy, and that all who call on God in true faith will be heard and receive what they ask for – even though the response may take longer than we expect. Luther describes prayer as “climbing up into the heart of God”, and as a way to experience God’s presence and power. He also stresses that prayer is a strong wall and a fortress of the church, a spiritual weapon against evil. He uses his favorite psalm (46) as a basis for our “Lutheran National Anthem”: “A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious…”

In the Small Catechism, Luther also provides structured daily prayers, including morning and evening prayers, mealtime prayers, and the Lord’s Prayer, often beginning with the sign of the cross and the recitation of the Creed. He encourages habitual and frequent prayer, warning that neglecting it – even for a day – diminishes faith and spiritual vitality. He advises that prayer should be honest and heartfelt, persistent, and not filled with empty phrases, reflecting the simplicity and the power of Biblical examples, like Elijah and David.

Luther recommends beginning the day with prayer, before any other tasks, to center the believer on God’s guidance and protection. He also highlights the idea that prayer should be bold and confident, trusting God to act according to his promises, even if the answers are delayed. He likens prayer to breathing: continuous, life-sustaining, and essential for spiritual health.

Martin Luther views prayer as both a theological necessity and a practical discipline, vital for spiritual growth, protection, and communion with God. Prayer helps us to “know” God in the covenant relationship – the marriage between Jesus and his church, bridegroom and bride (Ephesians 5:25-27; Revelation 19:7-9, 21:2) Luther provides clear guidance on how to pray daily, emphasizing faith, persistence, and simplicity. “No one can believe how powerful prayer is and what it can effect, except those who have learned it by experience,” he says. And now, to help you grow some of that experience in prayer, here are a couple of ideas you might like to try.

The first is to focus on a particular portion of Scripture, like the Beatitudes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:3-11). The word “beatitude” means “blessing.” Jesus is blessing those in the crowds who have come to see him – specifically the vulnerable and the needy. In a world where they feel invisible and struggle just to survive, Jesus is reminding them that God still sees them and cares for them. In a world dominated by power and wealth, he reminds them that God’s Kingdom is instead built around justice and care.

This month, you might like to take some time to pray over the Beatitudes. As you read through them line by line, take a moment to pray for people in our world today who match each of Jesus’ descriptions. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” for instance; who are some of those who feel discouraged, or downtrodden, or forgotten? If you enjoy writing or journaling, you might also record your own modern-day beatitudes based on Jesus’ words. How would Jesus bless them today, and how might you be called to pray for them, and to care for them?

In a similar vein, you can do the same with hymns. I’m sure that you have a favorite, perhaps one that brings back a special memory for you, a reminder of a loved one, or a favorite from your childhood in the church.  Music has a special way of touching our hearts, and we feel God’s presence and faithfulness in our lives. Focus on the words of the hymn, and their meaning. What do they tell you about God’s promises, or about who God is? Maybe the hymn reminds you of a Bible verse, or an image or story. How does the hymn encourage you in your faith, and what might God be wanting you to hear through this hymn? Online, you can also find recordings and videos of popular hymns to listen to, and to sing along with as you reflect.

The second suggestion is simply to consider the question: “How is my prayer life?” You may be a Prayer Warrior praying diligently every day; or you may be one who prays only when desperation or trouble arises. To help you evaluate this, here is an idea called “The Six Chairs” of prayer, to help you assess where you are in your prayer life. Chair One: my attitude is that prayer is not important. I have no motivation or desire to pray. Chair Two: my attitude toward prayer is that it’s optional, and I have no motivation to pray because life is inconsistent; prayer is sporadic and produces only guilt and frustration. Chair Three: my attitude toward prayer is that it’s important. I pray every day, but my prayer life is shallow and self-centered. It’s about what God can do for me, not about how God can work through me. I am simply asking for things. Chair Four: my attitude about prayer has grown from being important to being necessary. I am starting to develop a relationship with God that has depth. My prayer life is consistent, combining prayer with spiritual disciplines. Chair Five: my attitude toward prayer is critical for an individual taking others’ requests to God on their behalf – not occasionally, but daily. Chair Six: my attitude toward prayer is critical for any group of believers. I am starting to see that our great God is capable of transforming a congregation, or a community, or a campus.

In which chair are you? You may struggle to get into Chair Five or Chair Six, but remember that it’s definitely worth it! Prayer can do unbelievable things. Just put yourself in a position to notice!

Three things seem to affect us in daily life: crosses, burdens, and worries. Our cross is the burden that we bear for ourselves. Our burden is the cross that we help someone else to bear. And our worries were never meant to be; these are the things that God intends for us to turn over to him in prayer. As we round out this month of October with a focus on Martin Luther and the Reformation, we give thanks to God for faithful reformers of every generation who remain true to God and work for the advancement of God’s Kingdom. I encourage you to be regular in your prayer life, and give to God the honor and glory due his name.

Prayerfully yours, Pastor Bartos +

+ “Pray, and let God worry.” (Martin Luther) +