Day 16: Who Has Time to Pray?

Prayer isn't easy. It's difficult to understand. It's challenging to know what to pray. Its answers are often trying. However, for most people, prayer is burdensome.

To say that our days are jam-packed would be a gross understatement. From the moment we wake up, we are on the go- navigating through our daily routines of work, school, or retirement. We spend time fighting traffic. We hustle through the aisles of grocery stores. We mindlessly move from one appointment to the next. Who has time to pray?

If you asked every Christian you know if their prayer life is what it should be, how many would say it is? If they’re honest, the majority would say it’s lacking. Why? Because most of us, whether we like to admit it or not, don’t always put God in our daily planner.

We learn a great deal about prayer through watching Jesus pray. He teaches us the how, the when, and the why. We see Him pray before defining moments in His life and ministry. One of the most telling aspects of Jesus’ prayer life is that it was intentional (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). Jesus, even though He was God, knew that a continual connection to the Father was vital to the success of His life on earth. If He needed it, I can’t live without it!

Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). For us to do that, we have to be intentional about it, and for most of us, intentional really means creative. Where in your schedule do you have time that you could use for more communication with God? Here are three suggestions (You don’t have to use them. Come up with your own!):

Take the FM Challenge: turn off the radio during one leg of your daily commute to work, school, or to shop. Use that time to pray. *It's called the "FM Challenge" because no one listens to AM anymore. If you listen to AM, your prayer life is probably great and you don't need suggestions from me! Kidding, kidding...
Do the Early Bird: set you alarm clock five minutes earlier than normal (I know it’s ludicrous to suggest getting up that early. Humor me.). Use those five minutes to plan out your day with God.
Get Unplugged: turn off your computer, phone, and television for 30 minutes. Use that time to pray with your entire family. Let everyone suggest things to pray about, ask them what they’re thankful for, or even do a group chain prayer. It’s really up to you. Go crazy!

Let’s be intentional about our prayer lives. If you don’t start making time now, you never will. We all need a constant connection to our Heavenly Father- it’s the key to a successful life!

Written by Jonathan Pettus, Involvement Minister at Mt. Juliet

*Let’s hear from you! What are you going to do to make more time in your schedule for prayer? Comment below and show us your creativity!

# posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Monday, November 29, 2010

Comments:

I have had it wrong for a long time. I keep an ongoing "to do" list and I always put the most important things at the top of that list. This is how I have always made sure I get things done on time! After reading this article, I realized something was missing from my list. "PRAY!" is now at the top of my list, and it's in the middle of the list, and at the end too! It's not that I didn't pray before, but I am guilty of praying when I have the time. Now I will have a daily reminder that prayer is the MOST important thing I have to do!

Thank you for this reminder about the importance of regular prayer!

# posted by

Anonymous : December 6, 2010 at 2:12 PM



Day 16: Who Has Time to Pray? Prayer isn't easy. It's difficult to understand. It's challenging to know what to pray. Its answers are often trying. However, for most people, prayer is burdensome. To say that our days are jam-packed would be a gross understatement. From the moment we wake up, we are on the go- navigating through our daily routines of work, school, or retirement. We spend time fighting traffic. We hustle through the aisles of grocery stores. We mindlessly move from one appointment to the next. Who has time to pray? If you asked every Christian you know if their prayer life is what it should be, how many would say it is? If they’re honest, the majority would say it’s lacking. Why? Because most of us, whether we like to admit it or not, don’t always put God in our daily planner. We learn a great deal about prayer through watching Jesus pray. He teaches us the how, the when, and the why. We see Him pray before defining moments in His life and ministry. One of the most telling aspects of Jesus’ prayer life is that it was intentional (Matthew 14:23, Mark 1:35, Luke 5:16). Jesus, even though He was God, knew that a continual connection to the Father was vital to the success of His life on earth. If He needed it, I can’t live without it! Paul tells us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). For us to do that, we have to be intentional about it, and for most of us, intentional really means creative. Where in your schedule do you have time that you could use for more communication with God? Here are three suggestions (You don’t have to use them. Come up with your own!): Take the FM Challenge: turn off the radio during one leg of your daily commute to work, school, or to shop. Use that time to pray. It's called the "FM Challenge" because no one listens to AM anymore. If you listen to AM, your prayer life is probably great and you don't need suggestions from me! Kidding, kidding... Do the Early Bird: set you alarm clock five minutes earlier than normal (I know it’s ludicrous to suggest getting up that early. Humor me.). Use those five minutes to plan out your day with God. Get Unplugged: turn off your computer, phone, and television for 30 minutes. Use that time to pray with your entire family. Let everyone suggest things to pray about, ask them what they’re thankful for, or even do a group chain prayer. It’s really up to you. Go crazy! Let’s be intentional about our prayer lives. If you don’t start making time now, you never will. We all need a constant connection to our Heavenly Father- it’s the key to a successful life! Written by Jonathan Pettus, Involvement Minister at Mt. Juliet Let’s hear from you! What are you going to do to make more time in your schedule for prayer? Comment below and show us your creativity! # posted by JP @ 12:01 AM on Monday, November 29, 2010 Comments: I have had it wrong for a long time. I keep an ongoing "to do" list and I always put the most important things at the top of that list. This is how I have always made sure I get things done on time! After reading this article, I realized something was missing from my list. "PRAY!" is now at the top of my list, and it's in the middle of the list, and at the end too! It's not that I didn't pray before, but I am guilty of praying when I have the time. Now I will have a daily reminder that prayer is the MOST important thing I have to do! Thank you for this reminder about the importance of regular prayer! # posted by Anonymous : December 6, 2010 at 2:12 PM Post a Comment << Home	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM Past Archives: November 2010 December 2010

Day 16: Who Has Time to Pray?

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