Blogger Template by Blogcrowds and Blogger Styles

.

A Prayer List

I have a very inspiring pastor. Over the course of several weeks, he taught about prayer. It's very crucial in a Christian's life and often underused. Did you know the average Christian prays for only 3 minutes a day? I was thinking about that.. and well, it takes about a minute to say grace for our meals. Three meals a day would be three minutes a day. Gosh, how convicting that was for me.

My prayer life is a roller coaster. Sometimes it can be truly consistent and those times are when I feel God's presence the most. Then, all the distractions roll in and I'm suddenly too busy. How I miss the presence of the Lord! My soul hungers for him.

I decided that I will make a new resolution this year. I know I am a whole month early, but no one really has to wait until Janurary 1st ;) My resolution is to have a stronger prayer life.

My pastor suggested that we start a prayer list. We can make one by writing down prayers that are needed and list them so we don't forget. We can write down the answers we get from God for these prayers. That part will help me be more thankful to God because I don't always remember to thank him!

We are creatures of habit. We can condition ourselves to pray daily. Remember that the more you pray, the more answered prayers you will get as compared to not praying at all! I also heard that the more we pray, the better we get at it! I better start practicing then! :)

An interesting Bible passage I learned at church tonight:

"And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth." Luke 11:5-8

I learned that importunity is like persistance. Imagine the man knocking on the door for a need to ask of his neighbor and his neighbor is telling him to go away because he's asleep in bed. The man continues to knock and is persistent, and then the neighbor arises and gives him what he needs. It is not because the neighbor liked that man or even wanted to help, but it was because of the man's importunity.

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Luke 11:13

And don't forget that our father is SO Much More generous and merciful unto his children than an angry neighbor.

3 Comments:

  1. Krystal said...
    Ugh. I know about the "too busy" excuse. It's just lame, isn't it?!? And, I know about the roller coaster. The dips come so quickly... before you know it, it's been a week since you really prayed. And you just think, "How did I let that happen?"

    The best time for me to pray is first thing in the morning. But sometimes, just as I'm about to start, my kids wake up. And then, the day just gets busy, and before I know it, I'm in bed... Wash, rinse, repeat.

    I'm getting better, though. If I'm not able to pray first thing in the morning, I choose a time ahead of time that I will do it (usually during the kids nap), and I am careful not to do anything else, cooking, laundry, whatever, until I've prayed. It takes discipline, but I'm getting there!
    Anonymous said...
    Very convicting indeed. Second article on praying/bible reading. This was a good one: http://whileiamwaiting.blogspot.com/2008/11/how-to-read-bible-daily.html
    Mama Fry said...
    Very smart indeed. I was planning on starting a similar prayer journal but I admit, I did get sidetracked. You should write down your prayers, then also write down when/how God answered your prayers. I hear it's amazing when you read back into the journal, it'll definitely open your eyes to God's quiet miracles in our lives. Good luck!!

Post a Comment



Newer Post Older Post Home