Prayer as a Plow

Many of us don’t think about it much, but less than a century ago there were probably several mule drawn plows still in use around Russellville. Perhaps the 43 By-pass has obliterated a field that once belonged to a Mr. Hester. His harnessed mule, old Francis, who could “gee” and “haw” with the best of them, would pull that plow, while old man Hester used his weight and strength to guide the plow and make that blade dig. Together they filled that field with straight rows of fresh turned earth in preparation for spring planting. There’s a simple romantic beauty to such a memory. But I imagine when Mr. Hester’s father cleared that field and plowed it for the first time simplicity wasn’t in his vocabulary. Rocks, roots and stumps hidden under never turned earth made plowing a backbreaking chore. The best way to find all the roots and stumps and rocks was to start plowing until you hit something, and then stop long enough to clear it. Then get back behind the plow and keep on going.

Most of us have seen or heard preachers preach, teach and sell books on prayer. Many preachers have their own idea on how to make prayer work. I agree that prayer is important. It’s a vital part to our walk of faith. But I’ve discovered something that most ministers don’t tell you. Prayer is work. Prayer is a discipline that must be consistent, and regular and honest, even when it doesn’t seem fruitful. I’ve discovered that prayer is much like plowing, and the field is my spiritual life. But it isn’t as easy as using one of the modern expensive machines with an air-conditioned cab. It’s more like using Mr. Hester’s plow pulled by old Francis.

The spiritual stumps, rocks and roots I keep finding are all the weaknesses and failures God wants to help me overcome. When I pray, and life seems to get more difficult as a result, I must not think prayer is not working. I’ve only hit a spiritual stump. There’s something in my life that doesn’t belong…perhaps it’s improper pride, or bitterness, or just plain laziness. Whatever it is, it’s always something that’s dangerous to my spiritual health. It’s always something that would certainly brand me as a public hypocrite if it were known to anyone else but God and myself. It must be removed if I am ever to grow. It must be removed if my life as His disciple is ever to be blessed.

We can effectively tie two Scripture references together: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?…First take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” and “Pray without ceasing.”

If our prayers are to be fruitful, if they are going to be heard by God, then prayer must be like a plow. It must become a discipline of work that is consistent, and regular and honest, even when it doesn’t seem fruitful. As we remain diligent and faithful, our prayers will produce fruit. God has promised it. I know that if old man Hester had quit plowing after finding that first big rock, his family would have starved to death.

That illustrates a simple point. If prayer is ever neglected for multiple seasons in a Christian’s life, beginning the practice of prayer, or returning to prayer may not guarantee immediate “goose bump” blessings. Prayer is just like a plow. Praying can seem much like work (Mark 9:20-29). In the spiritual soil of the untilled heart, it will reveal pain, sin, weakness, and every other “unexpected surprise” one could imagine. Victory over that buried stump, or hidden stone, may seem impossible, but practice of prayer in the presence of our Lord is the only way to victory.