We have been talking about prayer in church this last month, and I've also been trying to focus more on prayer in my life this last while. Trying to start and end my day in prayer and reading God's word. There are so many anxieties and stressed in life and I have been reminded that God is control of all of them!
I continually remind myself of this fact as I have transitioned from being a student to working life, and by transition I mean I am still looking for work! I have found that by starting and ending my day in prayer about all of my worries helps relieve my anxiety and reminds me that God is in control and will work everything out for His good! Praying continually throughout the day helps me let go of my worries and allows God to take them and work them out.
Whether it is worrying about a job, or about a relative or friend who is sick, or anything else that comes to mind, God is in control and there is nothing I can do but trust Him as He works out those details. I should just keep walking forward and yearning to be more like Him and grow closer to Him, and to follow His will for my life and He will work out these details that I can't control.
I came across this thought from Stuart Weir and wanted to share it with you today:
"As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. 1 Samuel 12:23
Most of us would agree that prayer is important so why is our prayer life not what it should be? If we truly understand the privilege that bringing our concerns to God is, then prayer would be a delight. In reality, prayer often seems to be a chore. In the busyness of life, taking time out to pray – when we could be working – is a challenge.
Don Carson says that “one of the basic demonstrations that we know God is prayer – spiritual, persistent, biblically minded prayer”. If we want to take the task of representing Christ in sport seriously, we cannot do it without praying.
Helmfried Riecker suggests reasons why we don’t pray
I don’t think I need to;
I am too tired.
God does not answer
It achieves nothing.
I can decide for myself without any help.
I cannot pray; I am too sinful.
I can’t pray about such trivial things when there are so many problems in the world.
God knows what I need, so why waste time praying.
St. Francis de Sales (1567 - 1622) former Bishop of Geneva was once asked how much one should pray. He replied that you should pray a half hour each day, unless you’re busy. If you’re busy, you should pray an hour.
Sometimes we feel too “spiritually dry” or far from God to pray. Ironically it is on those days, more than any other that we need to pray!
Keep a prayer journal where you note who you prayed for and what you prayed for. It can be a great encouragement to look back and see how God has been at work and also a challenge to keep investing in and praying for people and not giving up on them."
I have started this prayer journal idea and have also taken up the idea of actually praying for people! We often say "I'll pray for you," and then either say a quick prayer in our minds later, or plan to pray and then in the busyness of the day we forget. I have decided to not just say it but to actually stop what I am doing and audibly pray for people right then and there (of course asking them if it is okay), or else send them an email with the words of the prayer that I have prayed! I think this can be so powerful. It doesn't need to take long or be extravagant, but actually audibly pray for each other! And God will do the work!
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