I suppose we have all had those moments when we saw something that just melted our hearts and made us smile ... until we looked a little closer.
I had one of those moments just this past week.
We were in a restaurant, a few friends and I, and I saw something that really encouraged my heart. There, in public, were a couple of young people, 20-ish, at a table across from each other. Their food had just arrived, and they both had their heads bowed.
We hear so often the anecdotes that lead us to believe that all young people have "gone the way of the world," but here they were, two of them defying that trend.
When I see such a thing, I am in the habit of thanking people for it. Many times I have done so to encourage people, and to let them know that they are not alone in their devotion. I made my way to their table, intent on doing so for them. But when I got to within a few feet of them, I quickly pivoted and walked away, trying to hold in my laughter.
Yes, they had their heads bowed. No, they were not praying. Both of them were holding cellphones in their laps and were totally engrossed in what was on the screen, their heads completely still, but their thumbs flying a million miles an hour. They would not have noticed anything if their hair had been on fire.
That which I had mistaken for prayer was not prayer after all.
But I wonder: How often has that been true in my life or in yours? I suspect that we often believe we are praying, when we may not actually be doing so.
There is nothing in the life of a Christian more important than prayer. Jesus himself, the very Son of God, got up early to go and pray. He asked his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane to pray with him. He gave a parable explaining that men ought "always to pray." I Thessalonians 5:17 says: "Pray without ceasing."
As important as prayer is, we should make very sure that we are actually praying. Prayer is not a ritualistic, formulaic repeating of pre-packaged words. Prayer is communication between God and man. It is when we openly and honestly pour out our hearts to him, and then listen as he gently impresses on our hearts that which he wants us to know. Prayer, if you let it, can become the means to the strongest faith you will ever know.
Sometime back, I was doing some manual labor at the church and praying while I worked. I was praying for one man in particular, a man I had not seen in 10 years except once in passing. I called out his name to the Lord, somehow tremendously burdened for him. For 15 minutes I prayed for him while I worked, and I had become as engrossed in my work and prayer as those two young people were in their phones.
Suddenly I was snapped out of that prayer and work by a voice behind me. I turned to see the very gentleman I was praying for was standing there behind me. I asked him how he came to be there, and he informed me that he was working - are you ready for this? - 15 minutes away and felt like he needed to come and see me.
The moment I had begun to pray for him, God began working on the other end.
Prayer is so much more than "Now I lay me down to sleep" or "God is great God is good, let us thank him for our food." That is certainly fine for children or for new Christians, but prayer is our vital link with the living God and should become so much more.
Never be satisfied with just saying words. Close out the world around you and get hold of God today.
Bo Wagner is pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, N.C., and the author of several books which are available at wordofhismouth.com. Contact him at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.