A Praying Life (Ch. 24-32) By Paul E. Miller
This reflection paper continues A
Praying Life by Paul E. Miller, covering Chapters 24 to 32. These chapters
complete Part 3, “Learning to Ask Your Father,” which explores the cultural
barriers that keep us from asking God freely, and move into Part 4, “Living in
Your Father’s Story,” where everything comes together. Here, Miller shows how a
praying life helps us recognize and trust the story God is writing in our
lives. Part 5 introduces helpful tools for growing in prayer in everyday
life.
When I was studying for my
bachelor’s degree, I first learned about ACA from my professors. I immediately
dreamed of going there for my master’s degree. I was deeply passionate about
it, but I was facing financial problem and was suffering a major obstacle. I
was on the verge of giving up my studies due to too much financial pressure. It
seemed almost impossible to fulfill that dream. Paul E. Miller writes, “When we
are in the middle of the desert, we feel like God is absent…Many of us wish God
were more visible. We think that if we could see him better or know what is
going on, then faith would come more easily.” He points to three examples: the
Canaanite woman and her daughter, Mary Magdalene, and his wife Jill with their
daughter Kim. I agree with Miller and this reminds me of my struggling days. I
was in the middle of the desert and was thinking God has left me. But through my season of waiting and
persistent request (prayer) like those three women Miller mentioned above, I
learned to stay connected to God and to grow in faith. As I mentioned before,
even finishing my bachelor’s degree was a struggle because of finances but
despite that, I dared to dream big. After three years of faithful, persistent
prayer, God not only helped me complete my bachelor’s degree but also opened
the door for me to pursue my master’s at ACA. Looking back, I can see how waiting
and the persistent prayer shaped me, strengthened me, and drew me closer to
God.
I have never been good at writing
down prayer points on cards or in a journal. In fact, I am not even very
familiar with that practice. One thing I used to do was post my family’s prayer
points on the wall for each day but for my personal life, I have never used
journals or cards. Miller convinced me that using prayer cards represents
discipline and structure. He calls this the “scrubbing floors” side of prayer.
It reminded me that prayer is not always easy or emotional; sometimes it
requires effort, consistency, and planning. On the other hand, praying like a
child reflects intimacy and trust what Miller calls the “holding hands” side.
It is about being honest with God and enjoying His presence. This challenged me
not to neglect either side. I need both, the structure of planned prayer and
the heart of a child who simply delights in talking with the Father.
In Chapter 27, Miller shares how a
stressful trip with his daughter Kim became a powerful picture of the gospel.
Though the journey was full of anxiety, he realized he was giving up part of
his life so his wife, Jill, could rest. While he struggled, she experienced
peace at home. He writes, “In the gospel, Jesus took my sin, and I got his
righteousness.” This reminded me of my own experience during my bachelor
studies. Despite persistent prayer to God, I went through a lot of financial
hardship, working under the hot sun after classes and during every break just
to survive. I often wondered what God was doing through that suffering. But
through Miller’s writing, I now understand that gospel stories always include
suffering. He says we love to hear about God’s love, but we often try to avoid
the suffering that shapes it. We pray to escape hardship, even though it might
be the very gift God is using to form us. When Miller sat on the plane
thinking, “Everything has gone wrong,” he later realized that was the moment
everything was going right. That’s how love works. This has helped me embrace
the gospel story God is weaving in my life and discover joy through it.
One of the most helpful parts of
reading A Praying Life was when Miller explained how to create prayer cards. He
provides a practical and flexible guide, saying that the number of cards you
use depends on the shape of your life. His suggested categories include 4–10
family cards (one for each person), 1–3 people-in-suffering cards, a friends
card, a non-Christian card, a church leadership card, a small group card, a
missionaries and ministries card, 1–3 cards for world or cultural issues, 3
work cards, a co-workers card, 3–5 repentance cards, and 3–5 hope or big-dream
cards. What stood out to me even more was his honest statement: “The hard part
of writing out prayer cards is not the time. It is our unbelief.” This section
was very encouraging to me. As I mentioned earlier, I have posted family prayer
points before, but I have never developed a full, personal system like this.
Miller’s example challenged me to be more intentional in organizing and
deepening my prayer life. His method gives structure without legalism, and I am
excited to begin putting this into practice.
So, do prayer cards or journals
really work? Yes, Miller shows that prayer changes things. He shares about Bob,
a man who disliked him for years. Their relationship did not improve until
Miller began praying regularly for him using a prayer card with 1 Peter 3:4. As
Bob went through suffering, Miller served him, and over time, Bob's heart
softened. Prayer made the difference. Miller’s story encouraged me to start
praying for my neighbors in Hoysala Dzire apartment. An older couple lives next
to my flat, and Pastor Athon once warned me to be careful because the woman is
unwell and sensitive to noise. I have tried to be kind and greet them with a
smile, but it did not seem to make a difference. Recently, after my kids played
noisily just once in the common room, the older man rang our doorbell and, with
a forced smile, asked us to keep it down. I accepted his request politely, but
it was hard to take since it was the first time my kids made such noise. Now,
after reading this beautiful story of Miller and Bob, I am encouraged that, instead
of holding a grudge, I should write them down on my prayer card and pray for
them regularly. I really want to get close with them and share the gospel to
them.
Reading A Praying Life (Ch. 24–32)
has deepened my understanding of what it means to live a life of prayer. I have
been challenged to trust God’s story in my suffering, to pray with both
structure and childlike faith, and to be more intentional in praying for others,
including those who are difficult to love. Through these chapters, I have
learned that prayer not only changes circumstances but transforms my own heart
as well.
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