Different Ways to Pray预览

The Prayer of Invocation

The Bible contains all sorts of prayers of “invocation.” These prayers reach out to God and ask Him to draw near. They welcome God into our lives and invite Him into our day to guard us, direct us, speak to us, and have His will done in our lives.

This is a great way to begin your day!

We can get so caught up in life's busyness that we neglect to slow down and spend time with God. Many men live on autopilot, rushing from one place to another, checking items off their to-do lists and ensuring everything gets done. We can easily become so distracted and consumed with our tasks that Jesus almost becomes an afterthought. Spending time with Him becomes just another thing we need to “get done” as opposed to a precious Lord we “get to” be with.

We all too easily forget just how frail we are and how delicate life is. Any breath could be our last, and any manner of trial could be our undoing, yet we seldom make an intentional decision to begin the day with the Lord, calling upon Him to take complete control of everything.

In Psalm 86:1-2, David models this intimate approach to God, acknowledging his own neediness and God's sovereignty. As we follow David's example, let's not merely go through the motions of prayer, but let's invoke the Name of the Lord, wholeheartedly inviting God into every moment of our lives.

When we do, we discover that our days are not just filled with tasks but with divine presence and guidance, transforming even the mundane into moments of worship and dependence on our loving Heavenly Father.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I invite You into my day and ask for Your guidance and presence in every moment. Help me to slow down and spend time with You, recognizing my neediness and Your sovereignty. Let every task become an opportunity for worship and dependence on You. Please fill my day with Your divine presence and love. Amen.

Reflection: How can you invite the Lord to be part of your day today?