I grew up talking to God. I had prayer time after I read my Bible every day. Asked God to help me be good, and prayed for everyone that was sick that I could think of, and of course prayer got me through geometry class. Thank you, Mr. Kingsley, for that curve!
But prayer was more like work to me, and I felt like I was talking to myself. Because I was lazy, I fell back on praying right then and there when a request would come to mind. And suddenly I didn't spend any time laboring in prayer over anything. I couldn't remember exactly any specific time that I prayed, but I know I did.
Then I repented of my sin, and fell in love with Jesus.
There has been no greater change in my life than my prayer and Bible reading. I cannot get enough. That's really not an exaggeration. No matter what I'm doing, no matter who I am with, I would much rather be spending that time with Jesus alone, talking with Him in the throne room, and reading His love letter to me. It's almost a bit ridiculous. One day a couple weeks ago, I felt this urgency that I needed to get alone on my knees and intercede for some people. Yet, I couldn't neglect my kids. I tried to get down on my knees while they were playing around me, but that didn't really work. I was thrown off all day because I just wanted to get alone to pray my heart out. Thankfully, Jace took over for me when he got home so I could have that time. What a sweet husband, and what a sweet Saviour!
I don't really know how I could describe prayer, other than liking it to dating. I remember the first time Jace called me. We were on our college Christmas break, and he received a cell phone for Christmas. (I know, we're old) I was his first phone call on his first cell phone. I was the most giddy little girl, and spent the next week talking about it to my best friend. That's when our relationship took off. Staying up late at night (or early in the morning) talking to each other, even if he had to be at work at five in the morning. We didn't want to hang up. We wanted to spend that much time together. That continued right up until we no longer needed phone calls anymore, but we were able to finally be together forever. I've heard this same illustration on prayer before, but I finally get to experience it!
I spend all my days breathing prayer. Looking for those opportunities to get a few minutes alone to pray. I look forward to it all day. When I finally do get that chance, I spend a good bit thinking, I don't want to leave here.
Don't get me wrong, I love being present with those around me, but none is sweeter than being with Jesus. I know He is with me no matter what I am doing. But that set aside time to focus on the beauty and majesty of God is as great as it gets.
Did you know our prayers are so precious to God that He saves them and stores them in bottles, and He is going to use them during the end. Revelation 5:8 "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 8:3,4 "And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand." I don't know of anything more incredible than Jesus storing our prayers, made possible because of the blood of the Lamb.
I believe most Christians would agree that their prayer life is the number one area that isn't as great as it could be. I know I used to completely neglect prayer until something major was happening in my life, then I would just utter "Please, God!" all day. But then I realized that being a Christian isn't about living your life with God on your side; it's about being about the Father's business (Luke 2:49). Suddenly, my mission became so great that I couldn't live without prayer. Being a follower of Jesus, is to be on an extraordinary mission to advance the Kingdom of God. Only God can encourage. Only God can open hearts. Only God can save. I can't do any of those things. If that's the kind of stuff that is my number one focus, then I need prayer. I need to breathe prayer.
I used to neglect prayer for my mothering. My day isn't complicated. My biggest problem is staying calm and not get stressed in the crazy moments. But when I started viewing motherhood as advancing the kingdom instead of being a household manager, suddenly, prayer became my oxygen.
I don't always pray through a list of people I'm praying for. Mostly, my prayer time is to get myself aligned with Him. I pray to vent about things I'm worried about. I get praying and all of a sudden I start praying through a secret area of my life that I didn't even realize was an issue. I pray to repent. I pray to be filled with the Spirit. Once I am sure there is nothing between me and my Savior, I can then intercede for those I love.
I cannot waste my day by Not being filled with the Spirit. My flesh is way too quick tempered, way too distracted, way too selfish to advance the Kingdom inside and outside my home. That's why I need prayer every breath I take. And hey, it's pretty sweet knowing those prayers go from my heart to the throne room of grace, to being stored in a bottle, to be brought out again to fulfill all things.
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