Prayer Asthma

Dan Lugo | May 8, 2010

If praying is like breathing, I have prayer asthma.

Sometimes I breathe just fine. I can stretch out my arms, open my mouth wide, and breathe in the goodness of the world. But sometimes, in certain seasons, I'm coughing, weezing, gasping.

Can you relate?

I've been gasping lately. In fact, several people I know have. Not only gasping for breath because of the unusually high pollen this season. But also for God's presence, because of the unusually high busyness of life.

It seems that prayer asthma is impartial. You can be a pastor, layperson, worship leader, college student, seasoned or newly initiated Christian. It doesn't really matter. Prayer asthma is also caused by several roots. Maybe you've never learned how to pray. Or, maybe you've been taught prayer over and over and over again, and now you're frustrated thinking, "Will I ever get this right?"

It's discouraging, eh? I know it is for me. But are you and me the only ones that have this issue? Is there any hope to draw in fresh breath freely, instead of weezing?

Take heart.

There is hope.

It's comforting to hear these words, "Lord, teach us how to pray." (Lk 11:1) The disciples, like many of us, saw a man of prayer and figured, "Hey, maybe he can help my prayer asthma. I'm strugglin here."

I was encouraged this past week at Pastor Sam's home, when about a half-dozen of us confessed that we have prayer asthma. We gathered together to be taught about prayer, to be encouraged in ways to pray, and most importantly, to spend time in prayer. That gathering was a deep breath from an inhaler, opening up the blocked passages, reminding me what it feels like to breathe.

I think the most important thing I learned that night is that we, like the disciples, shouldn't be embarrassed if we don't know how to pray. Those following Christ, 2,000 years ago or today, can still humbly ask that question, one alongside the other: "Teach us how to pray."

We'll be continuing this group for the next three weeks. If you think you might have prayer asthma, come on out.

I know I'm breathing easier.

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