Jesus’ response to “teach us to pray” was “when you pray, pray in this way” and then he gave the disciples what we call the Lord’s Prayer.

I have found the following exercise to be helpful as I linger in prayer, using those words. I have practiced it in quiet times of devotion, sitting by the ocean, and at my desk during the work day. It is an exercise that travels.

What helps me linger is being aware of my breath and making my breathing a part of the praying. The fathers and mothers of spiritual disciplines have noted that breathing and prayer are closely related. Once, I heard a director comfort a young woman who was insecure in her prayer life that she should remember that “if you are breathing, you are praying.”

I offer instructions for each of the phrases. You should feel free to adopt it to your own rhythm but do breathe deeply and slowly. Take your time hold each breath a few seconds as you ponder the suggested thoughts or others that come to your mind.

First, take a moment to recognize that the Spirit is indeed present. Right here, right now.

Breathe in. Ask the Lord to help you pray, remembering that this prayer was given as a response to the disciples asking Jesus to teach them to pray.

Breathe out. “Our Father, who art in heaven,” As you breathe out, send your prayer out, calling on our Father who draws us into his presence.

Breathe in. “hallowed be thy name.” Take in God’s transforming holiness.

Breathe out. “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done” Make your petition to the one whose will is prefect love.

Breathe in. “on earth, as it is in heaven.” As you breathe in, take in the Spirit. Take God’s will into your heart, a child of the earth, a part of creation.

Breathe out. “Give us this day” Release your petition to the one who graciously gives us all that we need.
Breathe in. “our daily bread.” Take in the living bread of life.

Breathe out. “And forgive us our trespasses,” Prayer to the one who delights in mercy and forgivness.

Breathe in. “as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Receive forgiveness and receive the power to forgive.

Breathe out. “And lead us not into temptation,” Remember that you are praying to the Good Shepherd.

Breathe in. “but deliver us from evil.” Receive the life changing Spirit of God.

Breathe out. “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, the glory,” Make this your statement of faith. Breathe out for the world what you believe.

Breathe in. “forever.” Breathe in eternal and abundant life.

Breathe out. “Amen.” Amen.

Some say that there are four major stages in life: 1) the student, 2) the householder, 3) the forest dweller, 4) the wise one. I am in the third stage, a forest dweller. This is true for me chronologically, spiritually, and it also happens to be true physically as my wife and I are living in a cabin on a wooded lot in the foothills of western North Carolina.

My understanding of this stage is that one now focuses on relationships; their relationship with nature, self, family, friends, but primarily forest dwellers focus on their relationship with God. As I consider ways of practicing this, I am finding that in spite of being baptized as an infant, calling myself Christian since 1971, and serving as a United Methodist minister for over thirty years, I am something of a novice when it comes to walking with the Holy One.

I don’t want to overstate this because these six plus decades have truly been an amazing adventure but sometimes it feels like the Lord and I have simply worked on several projects together, talked on the phone a good bit, and have some mutual friends. Often when I take prayer walks, look at mountains, or watch water falls, I wonder just what it means to give attention to my relationship with God and I realize that I am very much in the first steps of this journey of knowing and being known by the one who, as Anslem said, “is beyond that which can be grasped,” and yet is closer than breath itself.

It’s going to be a long journey, much longer than a thousand miles but it still begins with that next faithful step. So, here’s the question; what is the next step? Or, to put it another way, if a friend asked you what is the one thing, the most important thing, they can do to improve their relationship with Christ, what would you tell them?

I have asked a lot of people that question and I have heard a lot of different answers. Many have said that studying the Bible is the best way to grow. Others say that serving others, seeing and experiencing Christ in the “least of these” is the key. A good hiking buddy says he ponders nature, the creator’s first bible, and there Christ is most real. There are a lot of legitimate answers to the question but here’s mine: prayer. I believe that learning to pray is the foundation. The relationship is built on prayer.

So Luke 11:1 is the theme verse for this forest dweller who is hoping to grow in friendship with the Incarnate One. “Lord, teach us (me) to pray.”

I believe I’ll pray that, ponder that, practice that for a while.