A Year of Choices…
By Barbara Dahlgren from Barbara’s Banter at www.barbdahlgren.com
Martin Luther said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible that to be alive without breathing.” Yet that’s what many try to do. They call themselves Christians but they do not pray.
The Bible is full of exhortations to pray and examples of God’s followers praying. The book of Psalms shows us that David, a man after God’s own heart, prayed often. He prayed when he was happy, when he was sad, when he was discouraged, when he had doubts, when he was thankful, when he woke up, when he went to bed, and all throughout the day. No wonder Paul told us to pray without ceasing. (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Jesus spent a great deal of time in prayer. (Matthew 14:23, Mark 6:46, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:28, etc.) If Jesus who was the Son of God felt a need to pray, how much more should we feel that need? We would be wise to follow his example. (1 Peter 2:21)
Prayer is not something we do when a bolt of inspiration hits us or when we feel like it. Prayer should be a priority and something we do whether we feel like it or not. God created us to be in a relationship with Him. Prayer is the conduit to building that relationship. We can’t build a relationship with someone we don’t spend time with.
Here are some excuses (not reasons) why people don’t pray…
They don’t think they have time. Of course, we know this isn’t true. They just don’t want to take the time. Studies show people spend hours and hours a day watching TV, surfing the Internet, looking at Face Book, emailing, texting, twittering, and so on. So time is not really the issue. Priority is the issue.
They don’t think it’s necessary. Jesus thought it was necessary. If it was a priority for Jesus, it should be a priority for us.
They don’t think it makes a difference. It does. Time Magazine has published several articles in the past 10 years explaining the healing power of prayer. They may not fully understand it, but they admit it exists.
They don’t know what to say. Prayer is merely conversation with God. Sometimes it’s asking for help but most times it’s talking to God about everything that’s happening in our lives and the lives of those we are close to like friends, relatives, and co-workers. It’s thanking God for each and every blessing. It’s acknowledging His greatness.
Consider this… Prayer is not some magic bullet aimed at God’s heart to coerce Him into giving us what we want. Those who approach prayer this way will always be disappointed. Prayer is to help us align our will to God’s, not the other way around. God knows what’s best; we don’t.
We need to make prayer a priority. In other words, we need to be praying every day. If we don’t, we won’t have much of a relationship with God.
Suggestions for practicing this choice…
- If we have trouble praying we can read some of the Psalms out loud. They are filled with adoration and praise to God. There is no better way to get started with a healthy prayer life than acknowledging God’s greatness!
- Don’t complicate the prayer process. Prayer is not contingent on saying the “right” words, at certain times of day, at specific places, and in the perfect position. These are peripheral issues and matters of personal preference. Just talk to God every day!
- There is nothing wrong with setting aside certain times to pray or having a bit of a ritual. However, guard against making prayer more about a ritual than a heart to heart connection with God. That’s what happened to the Pharisees. Remember that God is looking for that personal connection with us.
- We can pray anywhere about anything. However, there were times when Jesus got away from everything to have some private one on one time with God. (Mark 35:37-39; Mark 6:45-46; Luke 5:15-16) Jesus had crowds of people following Him all the time – wanting Him to do things for them. He literally had to make time to pray, which is exactly what He did. We need to make time to pray!
- Pray, pray, pray every day! Pray planned prayers (Daniel 6:10, 13; Psalm 119:164) or continual prayers (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Sit, stand, or kneel. Keep your eyes open or closed. Raise your hands, clasp them together, or keep them at your side. It’s all good. Start your day with a little prayer and end your day with a little prayer and pray throughout the day. Just pray, pray, pray every day! Always pray and don’t give up! (Luke 18:1)
