Vital Behaviors for Christ-Followers—Prayer

Reverend Patti Duckworth, Associate Executive Minister, ABC of the Northwest

Recently, I read an article (see below) that made reference to “vital behaviors” which were defined as “high-leverage actions that, if routinely enacted, will lead to the results you want.” This got me to thinking about Christian “vital behaviors.”

While I would not necessarily want to offer a check list, it does seem to me that we might thoughtfully offer categories or descriptions of Christ-like “vital behaviors” … those behaviors essential to sustaining life in Christ as well as needed for leadership in congregations.

Perhaps it goes without saying, but I believe one of the most vital of vital behaviors is prayer. A few weeks ago our pastors and leaders were called to account regarding our prayer life by Jim Purves as he spoke to our Leadership Tune-Up Conference. (See www.abcnw.org for more). His words brought me back again to the fact that prayer is not just the saying of words or thinking thoughts toward or in the presence of God. The vital behavior of prayer is the desire to commune with the Living God. And then prayer needs to become a description of who we are, not just something we do. It is “standing before God with the mind in the heart” (The Art of Prayer).

Prayer is communication, and necessary to communication is listening. Listening is an act of will. Listening includes an examination of what is “heard” – comparing it with Scripture but also allowing the Spirit to sift our motives. Listening requires time. To be sure, this kind of prayer is much easier described than practiced.

May we be obedient to the Lord’s call on us to “pray with out ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).

Teaching Session referenced:  The Rev. Dr. Jim Purves, Session 2 of the Leadership Tune-Up Conference at Ross Point Camp (Post Falls, ID), September 27, 2010

Article referenced: How to Find Vital Behaviors by David Maxfield

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