Having Trouble? Tired? Need Something Good? Come Pray With God A While!

Are you having trouble praying? Or praying Seriously for more than 10 minutes? Can You barely keep focused on prayer for 10 minutes or more? Want to know How You can  “pray without ceasing and be effective?” Answer: expand Your understanding of prayer!  

In 17th century France there lived a man known as Brother Lawrence. When Lawrence was denied the opportunity to become a monk he instead volunteered to work in the monastery kitchen and garden. Unable to dedicate his life to study and formal prayer he set out to learn to make ordinary tasks platforms for knowing God. He wrote a book about his experiences called “The Practice of the Presence of God.” gty_tired_woman_mi_130822_16x9_608

Because Lawrence wrote this book, He is  my patron saint. Not many of us have the privilege of living purely contemplative lives. We are rushed and pushed, rushing and pushing ourselves. Our business is busy-ness so we imagine that if we could wind down, everything would be perfect, including our relationship with God.  

We do need to learn rest. But stress comes with the normal responsibilities God assigns us. The key is not escape, but, as Lawrence learned, to make work and what is stressing us out and trying to choke the life out of us triggers to connect with God. When you use the stressors of your life and what is trying to choke the life out of you as triggers to connect with God, your prayer life will become more powerful and God will be able to work more in and through your circumstances to help you bring about much needed help, relief, and solutions!

For example, Weeding the garden reminded Lawrence to pray and weed his soul. Peeling potatoes prompted him to ask God to cut away his stubbornness. Lighting a candle led him out of the shadows and into God’s presence. Lawrence took everything he encountered and made it prayer. He “practiced” finding God’s presence all around him.  

We can do the same. While brushing my teeth I can ask God to guard my words. As I drink a glass of water I can ask God to refresh my passion for my job. Putting on cloths can remind us to “Put on the armor of God” for the conflicts I’m navigating. Landmarks along the highway can prompt me to pray for people I will encounter and decisions I must make. 

Point being: Distractions can be friendly visual aids for improvising and improving your prayer life.  

Prayingcouple2Today, invite God into your noisy times and  and pray throughout your day. Be creative and run into your busy-ness. For example when you are praying, A cup of coffee can  reminds you to pray… Listening to a news report prompts you to pray… Reading a spreadsheet brings to mind prayer…  

In other words, Praying without ceasing, without stressing… we are sure the above examples can give you clear hints on how to pray and when to pray. What about you? How can you begin to invite God into your circumstances so that He might work and move more mightily?

Think about it, then Use your Free Online Journal to journal what you will do, how you will do it and how often you will do it;https://penzu.com/

“Pray without ceasing…” (I Thessalonians 5:17)  

– Pastor Mark And Jill
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