Getting started

So what is prayer, really? And how do we go about it? Do we set aside certain times each day for prayer, or do we pray in snippets of conversation throughout the day? Should we pray in the morning or in the evening? What does it mean to "pray continuously?"

I'm hoping to delve into some of these things for myself in this & future posts, and if any of them help someone else, then that's just a bonus!

Something I've always struggled with is having consistent times spent in prayer & Bible study (I like to refer to this as my "quiet time," although sometimes my prayers are anything but quiet!).

I've never been a big morning person. I can wake up early, if I have to. But don't expect me to be happy about it or have a nice conversation over breakfast unless I've been awake for at least an hour! Growing up, I had always heard people in church talk about "waking up to have their quiet time" and "the morning is the best time of the day to devote to God." I think that this has been one of the reasons I struggled with consistency--mornings are my worst time of day to focus, I'm exhausted, and usually fall asleep when I try to pray.

I tried evenings, but somehow that didn't feel as "spiritual" compared to what other people were doing. And I would find that I'd forget what I read or learned after a good night's sleep. Working full-time made any during-the-day quiet time difficult. So, when was I supposed to find time for God?

I used to always think, "When I get to be a stay at home mom, I'll be at home all the time. I'll have sooo much time to devote to God's Word and prayer." (snicker) Looking back, I had much more free time when I worked during the day than I do now at home! The grass is always greener, isn't it?

My point in this rambling post is that I'm learning that it's all about embracing the season of life that you are in. Are you single and live alone? Maybe mornings work out great for you. You can wake up...instead of your morning coffee with the paper it's your morning coffee with your Bible. There are no spouses or children to disturb your peaceful times with Christ. Or maybe you work evenings and get home around 1 or 2 a.m. There's not much on TV anyway...get out your Word. Let Him speak to you. Spend some time talking to Him.

For me, in this season of my life with 2 small children and a husband who works weird hours....I just have to take it when I can get it. Five minutes at the breakfast table (you know, when the kids are done eating--you're always the last one eating anyway, take advantage of that time). I post some prayer reminders above my sink; while I do dishes, I say little prayers for people I love. Sometimes, like today, the days are horrible and endless. The last thing I really want to do is spend time with the Lord at midnight. But I know it's the One Thing I need to do.

My husband (oddly enough, a morning person!) gives me grief about staying up late. He does this because he loves me, I know, and because he's wise. He knows that there is an almost 100% chance that one or both of our small children will be awake between midnight and five a.m. But sometimes, like tonight, I know that an extra hour spent with my Lord is not an hour of sleep wasted, but an hour of strength gained. I am re-centered, my mind and heart are once again at peace. I gain new power for the days to come.

I was reading in Psalm 119 tonight, and I was encouraged by all the different times of day that the author prayed or meditated on God's Word. "In the night I remember your name." "At midnight I rise to give you thanks." "I meditate on it [your word] all day long." "I rise before dawn and cry for help." "My eyes stay open through the watches of the night." "Seven times a day I praise you."

Let's not get hung up on the "when" but concentrate on the "Who."

A simple truth

I was mulling over the concept of prayer today. And I came away from that time with this simple truth:

In order for prayer to work, to accomplish the purpose for which God created it, we have to actually pray.

Not read about prayer in the Bible, not read a book written about prayer, not talk to others about prayer & how it changes lives....

Just pray.

All those other things are good, but they must be used to help us "work out our own salvation." We have to pray. There's no getting around the work, no shortcuts, no "10 steps to answered prayer."

Just pray. But, oh, the rewards!!

Anybody reading this thing?

Ok, so isn't it crazy when life gets in the way? The past few weeks have been challenging. But I am an overcomer. That's what He says, anyway.

This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God. - 1 John 4:3-5

The firstborn, type A, perfectionist in me absolutely hates that I can't just do things right the first time. It especially hates the fact that sometimes I am learning the same lessons over and over again.

I'm one of those women--maybe you are, too--one of those women who starts the race well. I'm running. Not too fast, not too slow. Just at a good pace, feeling pretty confident. I'm walking with my Lord, talking with Him throughout the day. There's nothing we can't handle together.

But, alas, (isn't "alas" a fun word? not at all Old Testament...) therein lies the problem. "There's nothing we can't handle together." There I go again, thinking that the Lord actually needs me to do His job. Now, I know you could interpret that phrase another way, and that God does actually use us humans to accomplish His perfect work on the earth. But, for me, that phrase is completely full of stinkin' pride. Full and overflowing.

And what's that Old Testament Proverb? "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall." (Prov 16:18) That's just what happened to me.

You see, I was doing pretty well, I thought. Getting up early to spend time with God, staying up late to hear His voice, talking with Him throughout the day and actually hearing Him talk back to me. But then I started to walk a thin line between the humble "He's talking to me..." and crossed over to "He's talking to ME! Look at what a good Christian I am! You know, Suzie Q over there--God's not waking her up to talk to her...."

Yes, I am being real. Hope that's okay.

So what happens? Life. Vomiting children, broken washing machines. Children who forget that they're supposed to sleep through the night. Husbands who want to spend time with you--and want you to not be a complete hormonal disaster.

I am quick to blame it all on Life. "Oh, God--yeah, I hear you calling me to spend some time in your Word right now. But you see, I'm just so tired. You know, the baby wouldn't stop crying last night. And then my son woke up 2 hrs early, and I just don't think I can do it. Maybe in a few hours, after I get a nap." And a few hours becomes a few days, which becomes a few weeks.

All of a sudden I realize, "When was the last time I got quiet with the Lord? What was the last thing I heard Him say to me?" And I realize that it was not He who backed away from me. Indeed, it was my fault. I fell.

Now here is the crucial point where I usually fail: Do I completely ignore all the guilt I feel at not having spent time with God and just pick myself back up and start running again? Or do I think "He certainly couldn't want to hear from me now. After all my pushing away, I just know He's not ready to hear from me yet. I mean, I haven't been loving Him the way He wants. Look at 1 John 5:3: 'This is love for God: to obey his commands.' I haven't been obeying Him...."

But here's where it gets good, folks. Just look at the rest of this verse!! How have I missed this before? "And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world."

So, here I am. Picking it all back up and relishing the thought that the load is not heavy anymore. The weight of my "Christian duties" is suddenly lighter. And everything I've been longing for is found again.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. - Matthew 11:28-30

What choice will you make? If you have been struggling with your prayer life--feeling guilty for not having one, or not spending the "right" amount of time praying--just pick it back up again. Throw off those hindrances and the sin that so easily entangles. I think you'll find the true rest you've been looking for.

Comments fixed

If you've tried to post a comment & didn't have a blogger ID, it probably didn't work. I guess I didn't have it set up properly! Feel free to leave a comment below for any prayer requests--I am praying!!

We've had a bit of illness at our house, so the things I had planned for this blog have gone by the wayside. But I'm finding that the quiet moments in the middle of the night are great for sending up prayers for my children, my family, & other needs.

The Lord has been waking me up (or keeping me awake) a lot these last few weeks, showing me things about myself that need to change, or giving me visions & ideas for other things like this prayer blog. I must say that although I am missing the sleep, these times with Him are so precious!! I wouldn't trade them for anything in the world.

It's amazing when we actually sit down and silence the noise around us (TV, computer, music)--He speaks. Softly, gently...He's always there, ready to share His heart with us. I'm so thankful for that.

Can I pray for you?

Not quite sure what this blog is going to look like, but I do know what it will be about--Prayer. And lots of it.

Mostly just me praying for you, but there may be a few tidbits here & there. Things I'll learn about prayer & will want to share with you. And lots of answers to prayer that we can be thankful for together.

This blog isn't quite launched yet, but if you stumble across my profile and end up here, please leave a comment to let me know how I can pray for you. Feel free to leave an anonymous comment if it's a sensitive request.