Given: there are times and places in life where this is extremely valid to do; depends on the person and their season of life at the moment and a lot of people are appropriately at that point. I say that to make sure no person is offended from reading this and to say that I am at a different (not better or worse) point in my relationship with Jesus.
For me though, I wonder if there is more. I think alot of my problems and issues, especially the ones I talk about in my prayer life are either brought on or made drastically worse simply by the way that I handle and think of them. We can worry something to death. We can make it a problem by thinking and worrying it into one. I get really tired of doing this. I heard a pastor talk about this and he says that now his time with God usually just looks like being the presence of the Lord. Just loving and being with the Holy Spirit. And if he has a request he presents it, but it takes no more than a couple minutes because the Lord knows all his needs. He isn't perfect, he isn't at some "perfect" point in his prayer life, but just chooses to make his prayer life about spending time with his father, his best friend, and Lord.
I think I wanna take up this challenge by taking a few days or even one day and simply not presenting any requests to God. I will pray without ceasing but never with worrisome asking. I will simply and solely love on Him and worship Him for this period of time. And at the end of time see how it went. If I do this challenge for a day and at the end of the day realize that I didn't pray at all then I think there would be a problem. Or if throughout the day, I found it extremely hard to pray, then I think there would be a problem.
The Lord is faithful. He hears all. He knows all. He knows when a leaf falls to the ground in the middle of a forest. He knows what I want the most in my life. His love endures forever. His love never fails. His love is the one thing that remains.
The beauty of prayer is watching and seeing how it develops and changes as your life ebbs and flows with ups and downs and where your realtionship is with God at the time. Funny you write this because just last night I was reflecting on my own prayer journey and how much it has completly changed. Growing up I always thought prayer was for bedtime, to yourself, in the quiet of your mind. Now, prayer is every second of everyday for me. It's rejoicing my love for Jesus and being gracious for the day. It's begging for patience when the 2 children I nanny for are screaming at the top of their lungs. It's putting my hands on my head and praying for healing to take place in myself and for the enemy to be casted out of my mind and taking power and authority over the devil. Its repenting my sins outloud in my car while driving to school. Its tears that are cried when I think about the deprived nations. It's holding my friends hand and allowing the Holy Spirit to pray. It's a hug for my roommate. To me, praying is every moment. It's being present with God and keeping Him in the conversation of your heart and mind at all times. It's being honest with Him about everything. Prayer is a beautiful gift for every moment to be connected with God and the Holy Spirit. If I didn't have prayer I don't think I could do life. It's the best coping mechanism and its the most joyful moment and the deepest love.
ReplyDeleteThank you for giving a new perspective on something I have been struggling with all day. Honestly, I needed this encouragement.
ReplyDeleteGreat challenge. And for a season, probably exactly where God is leading you.
ReplyDeleteThis is great Nick. God is always there to help us in our times of need...but if that is the only thing we go to him for then that is not a genuine relationship. Sometimes we just need to be there to love on Him, thank Him, worship Him, an not ask HIm for a thing. I was sooo challenged by this! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteSo...how's it going?
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing! So how is it going?
ReplyDeletehuh. I thought a lot of different things while reading this... my mentor actually just recently pointed out to me that instead of me asking and explaining and such, just to "crawl up into His lap and let Him kiss your boo-boos"... you can put that into whatever language suits your needs, but the point is the same as your challenge: just to BE with Him. But I also thought while reading this that sometimes I used to wonder why we pray at all if God already knows everything... and my mom told me that He still wants to hear us, He still wants to be in conversation with us. So, I just wanted to add that, too... :)
ReplyDeleteWoah so awesome. I think thats all God wants from us, to be in His presence. To just want to spend time with Him instead of just asking away. I definitely struggle with it as well but over the past few months have just been seeking to sit in HIs presence, in silence. It holds a lot of rewards and, for me, brought our relationship to the next level. I really encourage you to stick with it.
ReplyDelete"Spending time with his father, best friend, and Lord" <--- love it. AND I love this: "The Lord is faithful. He hears all. He knows all. He knows when a leaf falls to the ground in the middle of a forest. He knows what I want the most in my life. His love endures forever. His love never fails. His love is the one thing that remains."
ReplyDeleteBeautiful way with words. Your willingness to step up to this prayer challenge encourages me to do so as well. To not worry about anything, but pray about everything. Mmmm, thank you so much for your thoughts. They have helped me very much :)
What Justin said.
ReplyDelete