Is there ever a time, while you are awake, when you are never without some form of thought process? Would it not be possible to direct, or redirect, some of that active thought into times of prayer throughout your day?
God never sleeps; is always at work around you. The Spirit of God is actively living in the believer. If we focused our attention on what was going on around us, in our homes, on our jobs, in our churches, around our neighborhoods and our world, could we not begin to live up to what Paul said: “Pray without ceasing”? (I Thessalonians 5:17)
May I offer some suggestions to help that verse become a reality in your everyday life? Begin by determining that this daily and on-going conversation with God to be important to you. I am not suggesting that this become a “resolution” for this New Year, but I am strongly advising that this is a must to your “walking in the Spirit.” Therefore, one must submissively commit to developing this spiritual discipline in his life.
At various times in your day, out of a heart of gratitude, express joyous praises to your loving and merciful God. This may be better developed as you learn to “watch and pray.” In other words, pay attention to the world around you and praise Him for what you see, hear, smell, taste, feel.
Make a habit of breaking out into a hymn or song of praise as you go about your day as James 5:13 recommends.
Also, allow your prayer to be less formal and more of casual conversation with a respected friend. And, as good conversation goes, the art of listening to the other friend becomes good spiritual discipline which helps you get to know the other’s heart, emotion and will. “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Many years ago, I worked at a temporary job that was not a favorite activity. I was a custodian at an elementary school. Needless to say, the bathrooms were not cool. In this school I was responsible to clean eight large restrooms everyday at least once. No matter how sparkling clean I got them, I knew I must repeat the process again the next day. One day the LORD revealed to me that He was right there with me in those nasty restrooms. This was a thought I had never entertained before. From that day on, those restrooms became a location of conversational prayer and praise to my God.
Here is the next suggestion: pray while you go about your daily activities, whatever they may be. I see people walking through the store, doing their shopping, and all the while they are speaking to someone who is not with them on their calling devices. What better friend do you have than Jesus? Talk to Him at any time and in any activity. And, in today’s society, one could speak to Him out loud in a crowd and no one will give it any notice. Pray On!
Often, we will have a variety of waiting times in the course of our day. These times are well spent communicating with your Beloved Savior God, perhaps silently for that stranger waiting near you.
We must not neglect the opportunity for confessing and repenting before our Holy God. No doubt we will have reason to do this often.
Of course the child of God knows that He knows everything, but we must not allow that truth to keep you from sharing the details of your life with Him. This will deepen your intimacy and trust with God.
When one fully incorporates these prayerful activities in his life, he soon discovers he has changed his thoughts from anxious worry to peaceful trust. Now, isn’t that worth the effort? Pray On!
