The Blacksmith’s Discipline: Honing Godly MenSample

The Tool of Prayer

There is no activity more vital in a man’s life than the time forged with God in prayer. Prayer must be forged faithfully into the structure of a man’s life, done daily, and practiced consciously until it becomes as involuntary as breathing itself. A man of God cannot get by without prayer.

Pew Research reports that about 55 percent of Americans pray every day. But this percentage sounds extraordinarily high to me. Most believing men I talk to have admitted to going long periods—days, weeks, or even months—without praying. Until we get honest about our prayer life, it’s going to be hard to get to the bottom of the core issue that men have with prayer.

So, if men are not actually praying, why aren’t we?

It can’t be because of a lack of information or resources on how to do it. There are many resources on prayer, including sermons, books, tools, and methods covering just about every facet of prayer. In addition, dozens of popular apps incite prayer, remind you to pray, and even pray for you.

This information is helpful and insightful, and I hope you’ll search out some of these resources. But if the wealth of information on the market solved the challenge of giving us robust prayer lives, there would be a majority of men presently praying … and there is not.

One of the problems men have is how they think about prayer. They approach it like they approach a diet. Like the latest weight-loss fad, the results are short-lived. Dieting (usually capitalizing on the shame of excessive weight) that focuses on results in a short time is nearly always short-lived, primarily because the goal is short-lived. A short-term diet aimed at a long-term problem is a waste of time.

When it comes to prayer, a man doesn’t need a lot of information about it or an introduction to the latest prayer trends that come and go quickly. What he needs is a new prayer lifestyle. One that is uncomplicated and easy to sustain for the rest of his life.

Prayer is a simple discipline when you think about it. It is merely having a conversation with God. The Master Blacksmith modeled this in Luke 11. He set a meeting with God and then he woke up, showed up, and spoke with God. How simple is that? This is how men learn how to wield the tool of prayer. You will learn far more about prayer and even how to do it if you just schedule a meeting with the Lord, wake up, show up, and speak up.

Prayer is a tool, but even more it’s an experience with our divine God. In prayer, a man’s desires are laid bare on the anvil before the Master Blacksmith who forged him.

For Reflection: Prayer is merely having a conversation with God. How does this perspective challenge or confirm your understanding of prayer?

Prayer Starter: Heavenly Father, there are a few things I’ve been thinking about lately…