Forgive the cliché, but in a “fast food world” and in an America where men would like their cars fast from 0 to 60 in 3.9 seconds, I suppose many of us regard prayer in the same way. Fast is okay, we think. Let’s just get our prayer done and get the show on the road. Besides, God will understand. I am busy, and I will have fulfilled my daily prayer obligation.
How many of us actually think that way? I got up this morning, downed my cup of coffee, said a few prayers and was off to work. But hold on a minute! “I think I just blew past my exit”, or at least in the sense that I missed God’s exit. God says, “Time with Me cannot be hurried. When you are in a hurry your mind drifts aimlessly back and forth between Me and your tasks at hand”.
I recognize that prayer is often times difficult, especially when our thoughts are not focused on God to start with. My mind is running a mile a minute when I get up in the morning. But even with our busy schedules, God would ask, “could you not carve out from your busy schedule some time to pray to Me?”
Too many people I have spoken to, either because they are too busy or because they can’t focus, do not strive or persist at prayer and give up after 5 minutes. One person, I know, went to her pastor after trying to set aside a time to pray, and said to her pastor that it was too hard and that she was giving up. Here is what a mom was quoted as saying “Another race against the clock with only seconds to spare for a few “popcorn prayers” shot up to the Lord throughout one more busy day in the life of a mom” (2004, Welchel’s Busy Mom’s Guide to Prayer xii).
How many of us compensate, for lack of unhurried prayer time, by having “popcorn prayer time” or “flash prayers” throughout our day as a substitute? Please do not take this the wrong way because I believe sporadic prayers throughout the day are all well and good, for we are instructed to pray morning, noon, and evening; but I also believe God wants us to find some time alone with Him to pray. When we do, we will be filled with His Presence, peace, and joy.
God wants more than anything for us, to spend quality time with Him. And when we take the time to seek His face, only then can we commune with Him and transcend both time and circumstances.
Prayer: Lord, in my busyness, help me to stop and pray to You. Help me to set aside a dedicated time to You that is unhurried, a time that I can sit and listen to Your still voice without the clutter of busy thoughts.
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Copyright 2014 by Bill Hutzel, All Rights Reserved
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BILL,ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE HIT A HOME RUN,THANK YOU FOR YOUR VERY MUCH NEEDED REMINDER TO MAKE SURE THE MOST IMPORTANT TASK OF ANY DAY IS NOT SKIPPED FOR BUSYNESS,TIME SPENT WITH OUR GOD,WITH THANKSGIVING MAKING OUR REQUESTS KNOWN TO OUR FATHER ,ONE OF THE THE GIFTS YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN BECOMES MORE CLEAR WITH EACH NEW POST,AND IT MAKES ME REAL GLAD OF HEART,DENNIS
Dennis, Thank you for your wonderful encouragement. I am encouraged as well by your glad heart. Thank you for your friendship. Someday when you visit your brother in New Jersey, we will get to meet. Bill