Every day is a beautiful day when you have rested, eaten, and enjoyed those you are with.”
–B.N. Rundell (High Country)
“Never stop praying. Be thankful, whatever the circumstances may be. If you follow this advice you will be working out the will of God expressed to you in Jesus Christ.”
–1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Phillips)
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There has been so much written and said regarding prayer. I wonder, I just wonder if we read more about prayer and write more about prayer, yet do less praying? Then we ask, is there a particular way to pray, or a particular form I should pray, and we get caught up in thinking about praying and don’t do it. However, prayer is perhaps one of the most important things a person can do in the course of a day.
“In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.” –Psalm 5:3, NASB
Does that mean we must pray in the morning? Yes and no. I would say you do not have to get up and pray at a certain time every morning. On the other hand it is a good way to start one’s day–in prayer. God has given us a new day so why not start the day with Him? It is a privilege to begin the day with the Lord. Someone has said that, “the morning is the tuning fork of the day”. If that is so, then prayer helps us tune up for the day.
The ESV puts a different slant to the above psalm, “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” I have never thought of a morning sacrificial prayer. What is the sacrifice? Maybe it is nothing more than getting up a few minutes early to spend time with the Lord. It might be to pray that during this day you will present your body as a living sacrifice unto the Lord (Romans 12:1)
Prayer should be a habit that we develop, a duty if you will, but more than that, prayer should be a part of our life. It should be an attitude of our heart and mind, that is praying without ceasing. We should be able to talk with the Lord anytime throughout the day. Too busy to pray? Then you are too busy. Prayer doesn’t mean you have to bow your head and close your eyes, in fact, when I pray I do what the Lord said, “watch and pray” and I seldom close my eyes. I like what Ray Stedman has said, we pray when we think it is necessary, we pray when we feel like it. We should pray in every context that we find ourselves involved in. We should always be thinking, or praying, “Speak through me in this.” In this email, in this business transaction, in this interview, in my daily duties and chores, in my interaction with people and family. Speak through me in my studies, in my work, in my recreation (oh, that’s a good one), in this walk I’m going to take, in the road upon which I am driving. Do you get it–pray without ceasing, pray always in every circumstance and situation.
Remember, prayer is not just asking God for things. There is the earnest prayer that comes from need. And don’t be surprised if God doesn’t answer some of your wants as long as they are not detrimental to our walk with Him. Prayer is fellowship, communion, and conversation with our heavenly Father. I have seen it put this way: Prayer has five elements: ACTS — adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication, submission. Don’t get hung up on those. If you leave one out, don’t fret over it. If you get them out of that order, don’t sweat it.
Yes, we should be like the disciples, “teach me how to pray,” but we don’t let that stop us from praying. As we pray, we learn. As we go through life, we learn to pray. And with that I would encourage you to take a few minutes each morning, if that be your “sacrifice” so be it, and pray. Remember, prayer is actually conversation with the Lord. Use it to develop a deeper and better relationship with Him.