PRAYER
Am I really supposed to pray at all times? How is that possible?
Scripture To Consider:
"With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18
"Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart."
Colossians 4:2
"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Big T's Thought To Ponder:
I love these verses...for many months after reading in Thessalonians, I ask myself this question - How can anyone pray at all times without ceasing?
One possibility is "popcorn prayers"... A close friend of mine just shoots short spontaneous, brief prayers up to God as a habitual response to every situation he encounters throughout each day. This is good stuff!
As we deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ along this breathtaking journey He has prepared for each of us uniquely and personally, these scriptures seem to come alive and are simple instructions that have to do with setting our minds on the things of above. To simply order our lives around God's desires and teachings so that our life actually becomes a prayer.
This kind of intimacy with Christ doesn't require you to isolate yourself from others or from your daily work routine in order to pray... you can make prayer your life and your life a prayer. While we live in a world full of distractions wickedness and the evil one's snares lurking around each and ever corner of life, it is paramount that we remain focused on our relationship with Jesus, that we stay alert and allow our minds to linger in the presence of Lord without ceasing.
God is our Wise Counselor, we should seek Him first for all things! This means every decision that we make, what we watch, what we listen to, where we spend our time, in our relationships, in and about our finances, in every B.H.A.G. and in every minuscule decision of our life.
Look at it this way, if we never spoke to our spouses or listened to anything they might have to say to us, involved the in any of life's decisions our marriage relationship would quickly deteriorate. It is similar with God, communicating with God through our prayers is what keeps us connected, grounded and distraction free from the lies of Satan.
One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord repeatedly instructs us to pray throughout scripture. If we can just cut through the fat - we should be in constant thought, prayer, communication and wrapping God around our minds because our Daddy and Mighty Creator says so! Obedience is the nature by-product of discipleship and He just wants the best for us, so we just need to listen and trust...
He has prepared the way through His Son Jesus Christ, He has prepared the good works for us; He has lit our path and is the lamp to our feet - Now all we have to do is walk in the finished work He has completed by communicating with Him through simple prayer in order that He can point us in the right direction and keep our walk straight.
God's Truth - Promises - Challenges:
"Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation with overpower you. For though the Spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!"
Matthew 26:41
"And then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
Luke 18:1
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep praying for all the saints."
Ephesians 6:18
"Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without wrath and dissension."
1 Timothy 2:8
I love this quote from Dr. Stanley:
"We All Tallest And Strongest On Our Knees"
