VERTICALLY CHALLENGED: the ups and downs of praying

By Gary B Lewis, Graeme Cann and Martin Castro

This book Vertically Challenged: the ups and downs of praying unlocks some of the common excuses people offer when it comes to prayer and praying e.g. "I don't how to how" and "I can't pray". The author offers a smorgasbord of innovative prayer strategies drawing upon his own life experiences and others' stories.

Praying has it

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gary Lewis
• Release date: Sep 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9780645555219

Book preview

© Copyright: Gary B Lewis 2022

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher / author.

Layout and design by Gary B Lewis

Featured photo insert by Martin Castro. Used with permission

Lewis, Gary B, 1952-

Vertically Challenged: the ups and downs of praying

1. Prayer—Christianity. 2. Praying—Personal I. Title.

ISBN: 978-0-6455552-0-2 — Print

ISBN: 978-0-6455552-1-9 — e-book

PUBLISHED BY GARY B LEWIS

Cranbourne East, VICTORIA 3977

[e-mail]

0407219522

contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

LET’S GO FOR A RIDE

1. I CAN READ … I CAN RIDE … I CAN PRAY

2. SURVEYING THE TERRITORY

3. BUT I’M VERTICALLY CHALLENGED

4. LET’S MIX IT UP

5. YOUR SERVE

6. PRAYER-ALLSORTS

7. NOT IN THE MOOD

8. GOING NOWHERE

9. WHY PRAY?

10. ANGRY WITH GOD

REAL PRAYERS

11. REAL ANSWERS

12. WHY?!

13. ARROW PRAYERS

14. I DON’T LIKE COOKING

15. LET’S GET SPECIFICAL

16. YOUR WILL BE DONE

17. … KNEES and TO ES NGUES

PEDAL CAREFULLY

18. POTHOLES & PITFALLS

19. EXCUSE THE INTERRUPTION

20. LOOKING AHEAD

21. ‘SCA…’ – PRAYERS

22. JUST PRAY

USING WHAT YOU HAVE

23. INNOVATIVE PRAYING

24. BACK TO NATURE

25. A CRY FOR HELP

26. SHELL WE PRAY?

27. DROP YOUR STICK

WHERE TO NOW?

28. PUTTING IT OUT THERE

29. LORD, TEACH ME

30. LET’S GET LITURGICAL

31. HISTORICALLY SPEAK PRAY ING

32. TWO OR THREE OR MORE

BE CREATIVE

33. FRESH IDEAS

34. A LEAP OF FAITH

35. LET’S HAVE A PARTY

CONCLUSION

36. LET’S CLOSE IN PRAYER

SUPPLEMENT

1. A COVID PSALM

2. PRAYER-PACK CHALLENGES

3. MY DUTY

4. PRAYER JAR

5. PRAYER JOURNALING

6. ON YOUR BIKE

SOURCES & QUOTES

acknowledgements

My formative years in the faith were shaped by some very dedicated Sunday School teachers, Christian Endeavour leaders and pastors, who nurtured my developing faith by instilling an appreciation of prayer. In particular I want to acknowledge Howard Wicks, Rev. John and Thelma Mills and Captain Bert Zuidema, all of whom have left an indelible imprint on my life.

From my late teens to early adulthood and married life I was blessed with some formidable mentors in the faith: Rev. Len Shannon, Rex and Joyce Beech and Pastor Danny Keefer — they never gave up on me.

Special mention to Ken and Dorothy Gardiner — our mentors in children’s ministry from whom we learnt so much beyond measure in the areas of prayer and faith.

From mid-life till now, I wish to acknowledge the modelling of a disciplined prayer of Ps’s Dennis and Nolene Prince, Pastor Rev. David and Gillian Bartlett, Pastor Graeme and Julia Cann, Ps’s Marty and Cheryl Lees. And a very special thank you to my student colleagues at Tabor College who prayed me through some very tough times.

My very special mentor, supervisor, friend and confidant for over the past 15 years, Ps John Evans. ‘J’, in the times we have spent together you have challenged, inspired, cheered me on and nurtured my soul so well. I am blessed beyond words.

Whilst pastoring in Wollongong, NSW, we were blessed and inspired to pray alongside such prayer warriors as Stan and Shirley Craven, and Helen Clarkson. They help keep me on track.

Robyn and Lloyd Thomas, Vern and Elva Board your trusted friendship over 30 years and encouragement and support has been immeasurable.

Special mention of thanks to my brother-in law, John Sutcliffe and his wife Margaret for their trusted friendship, unconditional love and prayerful support over many years.

To my dearest wife, Maree — not only my faithful critic and editor — but my soul mate and constant prayer companion for the past 50 years. You have remained patiently steadfast, gently direct at all times, encouraging, Spirit-led, Bible-based, inspirational and supportive in countless ways.

Lastly, I want acknowledge and honour my parents — Bruce and Dorothy Lewis — who raised their six children in the Christian faith and introduced each one of us to the life of vibrant prayer.

Prayer. Your life depends on it.

foreword

Gary Lewis, husband to Maree, father of three adult children and grandfather of six, has served for more than forty years in education, children’s ministry, pastoral ministry, chaplaincy and lay church leadership. His unique gifts of creating resources for others, writing books, and developing training and equipping courses, has enriched and enhanced the ministry of many and resulted in a rich legacy of creativity and innovation in ministry. His more recent role as Prayer Co-Ordinator in his local church has fired his passion to enrich the prayer life of congregations and individuals. Hence his book, ‘Vertically Challenged’.

In his whimsical but insightful style, Gary Lewis refers to those who feel that they can’t pray, or don’t know how to pray, or don’t want to pray, as Vertically Challenged. However, he does not use this term in a derogatory fashion but presents it as a diagnostic tool, that helps the reader identify our real difficulty with praying, and as a model for revitalising our prayer life.

Using powerful, personal stories and stories shared by others, Gary explores definitions of prayer, wrestles with the phenomena of ‘unanswered prayers,’ and encourages innovative prayers.

As would be expected from someone as passionate about resourcing others as Gary, one of the many highlights in this book, are the practical suggestions for revitalising personal prayer times and group prayer meetings. The many chapters that address creative ideas for powerful prayer, are

supplemented by several very helpful resources at the end of the book.

I warmly commend this book, not just as a valuable contribution to enriching our prayer life, but as a useful and timely resource for Pastors and Church leaders.

Graeme Cann

Graeme and his wife Julia joined the staff of The Leprosy Mission in 1962. Later, they helped pioneer El Kanah for 16 years — a counseling ministry to wounded people and those who ministered to them. The Christian Counseling Association of Australia was born out of a vision that Graeme and others had. Graeme and Julia have 4 children and 14 grandchildren.

Over the last 25 years Graeme has been deeply involved in issues relating to domestic violence and child sexual abuse. He is now focused on mentoring the next generation of Pastors to continue this work.

He is the author of ‘When The Tiger Roars’, ‘The Guilt Busters’, ‘Encounter’ and ‘Confronting Conflict’.

introduction

In 2006, Philip Yancey authored a book entitled ‘Prayer. Does it make any difference?’ His book is considered a masterpiece on exploring and explaining this thing called ‘prayer.’¹

He cites literally dozens of resources on prayer — which I am not going to attempt to replicate in this small book. As I sit here at my desk at 5.00 a.m. contemplating what to call this book, my blurry eyes scan over this list of books and collections. And as I do so, I am struck by one spectacular observation viz., that everyone who has ever authored a book on prayer would have had the same challenge as I have — what do I call this book?

Oh, I love some of the titles, such as:

‘With Christ in the School of Prayer’ by Andrew Murray.

‘The Problem with Prayer/s’ by David Hubbard

‘The Art of Prayer’ by Tim Jones

‘Prayer for Beginners’ by Peter Kreeft

And let’s not forget ‘Prayer for Dummies’ by Richard Wagner.

These titles stood out above the rest — not that they are any better in their content — but if you are anything like me at all, a catchy title is an open invitation to investigate.

On the inside cover of Yancey’s book mentioned above, the publisher has included this blurb: "…this is perhaps his greatest challenge to date: to explain the most foundational aspect of our relationship with God — Prayer.

What is prayer

What difference does it make?

How and why should we pray?

What about unanswered prayer?

How should we understand prayer for physical healing?"

The book you now hold in your hands — either as a hard copy or an e-version — is about prayer and praying. I have spent years researching this book, and more recently numerous hours contemplating what to call this book. And now, relieved — as I write now — I sense the Spirit saying something like: "My son, just as you are becoming obsessed with searching for a meaningful and attention-grabbing title, I want you to be even more obsessed with prayer and praying. Don’t keep getting distracted with peripherals — keep your focus, and let everything fall into place!"

Thank you Lord Jesus, for your Spirit’s gentle guidance and discipline. Thank you for your constant reminding that it is always all about You — Your will and purpose — in Your way and in Your time.

So, were those hours all wasted in brainstorming ideas for a title? Not at all — for no sooner had I written my response to the Spirit’s prompting (above) that the answer came:

‘Prayer. Your life depends on it.’

If you were to be placed in a room completely sealed without any ventilation — no source of fresh air. You would live only as long as there was enough oxygen for you to breathe — and that of course would be relevant to the cubic metre space of the room. But the reality is that you would eventually run out of air — and so every breath would literally become increasingly difficult and excruciatingly painful, until you would eventually lose your ability to have any cohesive rational thought and ultimately the loss of all consciousness. Sadly, you would die a distressingly slow death.

Prayer is like air. Our lives depend on it. Prayer is like our oxygen-pipeline to heaven.

Prayer is the breath of the soul.

Ellen G White.

No prayer …

no hope …

no life …

no God …

no peace.

Know prayer …

know hope …

know life …

know God …

know peace.

That said, you will no doubt have shaken your head in disbelief as you will have realised by now that this book is not titled: ‘Prayer. Your life depends on it.’ It is actually called ‘Vertically challenged. The ups and downs of praying.’ Right? Not wanting to confuse in any way at all … please stay with me for a minute longer as I share with you where the idea of being vertically challenged came from.

In the introduction to Sheila Walsh’s book Get off your knees and pray,³ she penned the following statement: ‘No matter how vertically challenged