For the Christian, prayer is the centre of life, everything revolves around our relationship with God in Christ. As Peter declares in the Gospel today, “you are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” It is to worship God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, that we come together today. This is not just ‘a once a week thing’, but something we do every day. It doesn’t matter if we do this corporately or individually. It doesn’t matter whether we do this in church, at home or as we walk around. We can pray anywhere and at any time.

There are two sides to prayer. Firstly when we talk to God and share our thoughts and feelings, a time when we might pray for others by name or as a group. Secondly when we try to listen to what God is saying to us.

This second aspect of prayer is the more difficult because we need to pause and be quiet. In a world of noise and busyness this can be hard to find. And when we do find the time to be quiet are brains are often working overtime and constantly breaking into that time of quiet and peace.

Don’t panic, God knows us better than we know ourselves and he can break in, in a split second. Just remember Peter, having told Jesus he was the Messiah, a few minutes later when Jesus talked about his forthcoming death Peter wanted to take Jesus away from Jerusalem and was told, “get behind me Satan.” Jesus was using the word Satan in its Hebrew sense of the tempter. I am sure all of us know about temptation.

Peter, the Apostles and the early disciples had to learn that they needed to listen to God. Christians throughout the ages have always needed to learn this lesson that we need to listen to God and then we have a chance of growing in faith and discipleship.

That is the fundamental lesson that all Christians have to learn if they are to grow. It takes time, it takes constant practice and it is a lifelong journey. We are never going to be perfect and it is not a competition with those around us. The only person I need to beat is me. But we need to acknowledge that you and I are affected by what life throws at us - there are ups but there also downs. As the old saying put it, ‘two steps forward and one step back.’ That, I am afraid to say is as good as it gets.

God bless you in your prayer life.

Andrew SSL