Choices abound in our lives. Choose prayer first.
Through Christ, we come with confidence to the Lord. But we much choose. Prayer is a choice.
In His presence, we are able to …
worship,
weep,
rejoice,
and request.
We seek His promptings and His leadings.
But, first, you much choose.
No one can create a prayer life for you. It’s your own opportunity to communicate with the Lord.
Often, though, our longing to pray loses to the pulls of our daily life. Calendar-filled lives complicate scheduling time for dedicated prayer. Our hours fill quickly with seemingly little time left for conversation with God.
Then (argh!) when we sit to pray, the challenge of distractions emerges! The list of what draws us away is long: wandering thoughts, ringing phones, barking dogs, being tired, inability to concentrate, and stressful days.
But, wait! The choice still remains yours. You alone make room in your schedule for what is important. You alone decide to completely dedicate your time to the Lord … whether it is 10 minutes or 60 minutes. Focus on God alone!
Three Ways to Make Prayer Your Priority
1) Consider Psalm 46:10. Then set aside distractions.
“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.’”
Choose to put aside distractions. Distractions steal many minutes and hours of prayer. Read and re-read 2 Corinthians 10:5 when your mind begins to wander.
2) Walk and pray. Take the next 10-15 minutes and go on a prayer walk. No formula or pattern or template is needed…just walk and pause. Pray as you feel led.
For example:
At the doorway, “Thank you, Lord, for bringing me here to be with you…”
In your kitchen, “Thank you for providing me food…”
Near your car, “Protect our travels…”
In your garden, “Thank you for the amazing planet You created for us…”
Beside family pictures, “Guide my children, parents, siblings today…”
Following your walk, return to your journal and record your reflections. What new insights did you gain about God? About yourself? About prayer?
3) Do a personal prayer retreat. Continue pondering the journey of prayer through a guided personal retreat. Download the Soul Motive to Pray ebook by signing up below for the Soul Motive newsletter.
