The question shot though me like a bolt from clear blue sky. Conviction quickly spread through my heart. “I hate questions like this,” I thought silently to myself. But no matter which way I cut it the answer was the same… “No… I don’t pray.” 

Of course my answer wasn’t entirely true—I did pray some. I prayed when life got hard, or when I needed something particular from God, or when I thought it might be handy to have God on my side. But I knew deep down that Ryle wasn’t asking the question in that way. He wanted to know if I was a praying man.

Thankfully, God used that question (and Ryle’s little book) to change my life. I know it’s cliché to say so, but it’s true. The change, interestingly, didn’t come through the book directly; it came, rather, through what the book prompted me to do, namely, pray. I really didn’t learn a bunch of new things about prayer in the book, or new techniques by which to jump start my prayer life. Instead, my prayer life changed by praying. Over the course of regular prayer, I learned how deep my need was (and is) for God, and I began to experience, slowly but surely, how satisfying it is to meet with Him. I was gradually but truly transformed from a man who sometimes prayed into a praying man.

God wants you to see Him for who He is, and come face to face with how desperately you need Him. He wants you to be drawn into a life of continued fellowship with Him—not for His sake, but yours. Would you be willing to ask with me and other prayer-struggling young adults the same question the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, teach us how to pray?” (Luke 11:1) I hope you will.

Every Sunday night from 5:00-5:45pm on the first floor of the youth house, we are going to gather together to learn how to pray by praying. Let me be clear: you don’t need to be “good at praying” to come. In fact, if you’re a bonafide prayer professional, this is probably not the prayer group for you. We’re looking for those who know they don’t pray like they should but are willing to take the risk of learning how to pray with others. Is that you?

Come and join us as we meet with God in prayer this Sunday… and every Sunday.

Your fellow prayer-struggling brother,

Nate