If Praying Became Routine
How might our lives change?
I was inspired to write more about praying after reading this thoughtful comment from yesterday’s post (A Prayer Problem).
From Linda Jean Stevens
Prayer is a gift from God and a way that we can communicate with him. In order to do that we must share and exchange information. Your point is a powerful one in that we would get up and leave after we make our presentation. Something I have done a lot in my life. In time I have learned to listen for that Still Small Voice (which might not even come right away.) But the more you listen, the more you hear.
I have to think praying conversationally through the day would radically transform our thoughts followed by our actions.
Our focus would shift away from circumstances and instead bind us to God, even the bad and embarrassing stuff would more likely find its way into the conversation.
We would stop dismissing parts of life to just dumb luck or coincidence but would frequently pause to ask God what he might be up to.
We might begin to thirst more to comprehend what God is wanting us to know from reading even tougher sections of his Bible. He might direct us to Bible studies near us
True, our connection with some people would become more strained and difficult, yet we would become gentler and more approachable to those who are suffering. They might begin to sense something new and refreshing welling up in us. Sort of like living water perhaps.
Our lives might begin to display radiant hope in what was before a mostly dark and negative inner world. And this might leak into other people’s inner worlds as well.
The following seems an appropriate passage for today’s reflection:
Final Instructions and Benediction from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 (ESV)
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.
15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies,
21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
25 Brothers, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.
27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
It is so easy to let this most important relationship be one sided and pigeon holed to a finite time of our day. However, God is always listening for us; we should be doing likewise.