Challenges in Everyday Christian Living预览

Praying Everyday

Our first prayer is repeating after our parents or spiritual mentors. We move on to rattling prayers taught by our elders/mentors. From there, with our simple prayers, we start including, adoration, worship, thanksgiving, confession, need for others and self. At the same time, we come across different kinds of prayers such as formal prayers and informal prayers, prayers at church, fellowships, personal prayer, corporate prayer and now even zoom prayers.

Those of us with a short attention span trying to pray long prayers is always a challenge. Praying every day is another struggle. Like Bible reading, it takes much effort to not sleep the extra minutes in the morning and spend time praying, instead. Our first focus is to see how we can get up early to pray. 

Despite our efforts, we may find ourselves missing our prayer time in the morning. What do we do then? A practical suggestion is to pray whenever there is some time. Praying on our commute is one of the alternatives. Of course, this has its limitations. It is a silent prayer, making it difficult for those who love to talk aloud to God, just as if speaking to a friend. 

There  are many suggestions on how we can pray. It pays not to get caught with the 'how' but to pray as the Spirit leads. The 'how' includes the posture, time, and other attributes which may help us have a meaningful prayer. 

Other than our regular prayer times, we need to incorporate prayer into our lifestyle. Nehemiah is a classic example. He included prayers as he did his official duties. He was praying for a favour even as the king was speaking to him. There are experiences when God has brought to remembrance things we forget even as we go about the everyday mundane routines of life. Trivial as they may sound, these make us love God more and enjoy life.    

Lessons to have a regular prayer time:

1. Include prayer time in your schedule. We give our best, not what is leftover. 

2. Have a prayer partner who encourages you and holds you accountable. This person needs to have your 100% trust so that your confidential information is safe.

3. Prayer is a dialogue, not a monologue.

Prayer: Lord, help me make prayer my lifestyle, even in the mundane