Making Room For Prayer

Making Room For Prayer

In John 17:1-5 we see that our Lord and Savior prayed first for himself. We should note that if Christ Jesus, who was God incarnate and without sin, needed to pray, how much more do we need to be given to prayer? We should never think that we can live for God without praying. Jesus prayed. He taught the disciples to pray (Luke 11:1-4). God’s house was to be a house of prayer (Luke 19:46). Christians are to pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We are commanded to pray everywhere for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18) and for the preachers of the Gospel to have boldness (Colossians 4:2-4). 

But, have you found it difficult to be consistent in prayer? The spirit is willing but too often the flesh is weak causing us to choose some other activity for our time. May I give you some thoughts about how to make room for prayer in your everyday routine? 

#1. Have a prayer list, prayer journal, or notebook. 

Perhaps you have multiple prayer lists. You may have your personal list. You may have your list from the church. Assign days to pray for each list or item, according to your routine or the routine of those for whom you are praying. You may choose a beautiful journal and transfer information from your lists into your journal so that you can interact with it on a more personal level (add Scripture, comments, thoughts, record answers, etc.). All of this makes prayer more of a part of your life, activities. We do that for which we prepare.

#2. Look for and choose places for prayer. 

A place can give you privacy so that you may pray aloud and keep your thoughts. Our Lord told us to pray in secret in our closet. A place can be inspirational. Are there places you go to relax and soak in the beauty? Why not make that a place of prayer? Close your eyes for a few minutes and speak with God. This is why we have opened the Worship Center at the church. If you are out during the day, why not stop for a few moments of prayer? Making places for prayer encourages you to make room for prayer. 

#3. Don’t be afraid to pray short prayers. 

Sometimes we think of a prayer warrior as someone who spends hours in prayer and, of course, we do not feel equipped to know how to do that, the result being that we do not pray at all. Can you see the strategy of the enemy or our flesh in such thinking? God is not won over by long prayers necessarily, but by praying If the Spirit moves you to pray for a long period then pray but praying is the issue, not the amount of time. Pray in the morning. Pray at lunch. Pray at dinner. Pray for a moment before you start work. Pray when that song moves your heart. Pray when that verse comes to mind. Pray when the moment when the Spirit prompts you. Give no thought to the length of time - just pray and when finished, thank Him and say the “Amen.” 

#4. Take your concerns to God, not others. 

Whatever they may be, such as teens, adults, kids, parents, cultural decline, crime, godlessness or churchlessness. Take all of these to God in prayer. Complaining has yet to change anything but God is mighty through prayer to change lives and things around us. 

Love In Christ, 

Pastor Scott