Pray First, Last and Always! In His Word 10-14-24
Teach me to pray Lord, Teach me to pray, You are the Potter,
I am the clay. Mold me and make me, hear what I say… I want to know you, teach
me to pray. These words came to me as sung to the tune of “Have Thine own Way
Lord” the old hymn.
When we start the day in prayer it gives us a refreshing
start, instead of complaining because we slept too long, we can thank God for
the extra sleep and ask Him to help us not be late to work. The Word of God
tells us to keep it up! To keep praying, that means don’t put it off one day
because you think you do not have time to pray.
I have learned that God will make time when you take time to
pray.
Even when I wake up, like I did today, later than I wanted
and I start to complain that its so late and I have so much to do, I caught
myself! I told myself to thank God for the day! So, I did. It made me feel
better about my schedule being shifted a bit. Most of all I gave God the glory
for the extra sleep, and the new day before me. When you think about it if we
allow ourselves to be grumbly, which is something we are told not to do in the
Word, we rob ourselves of joy. Each new day has the chance to be a joyful
occasion. Even if you wake up on the ground, you are awake, and you have a day
full of things that can make your day good. Thank Him in every situation for
something. It is like an ‘attitude of gratitude’ kind of thing. Instead of
acting grumbly, choose joy!
For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the
power to do what pleases him. Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean,
innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full
of crooked and perverse people. Philippians 2:13-15 (read the rest of the
chapter!)
Prayer is a spiritual communication with God, both speaking and
listening. If you listen to God during your prayer time you may hear His voice
speaking to your heart and mind.
Some people write down the thoughts they get when they pray.
Actually, this can help to differentiate God’s direction in the Word from your own thoughts. When God gives us
direction in His Word, often it is for a certain thing in our lives. A word to
stand on when we are going through a powerful storm can be a big thing! A Word
from God is even more! So keep on
praying!
Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is
God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to
what is good. Stay away from every kind
of evil.
Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way and may
your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus
Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is
faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 ( read the rest of the chapter!)
If you are worried that God is not listening, maybe it is
time to check yourself? Do you harbor unforgiveness or other things in your
heart, or are you doing something in your life that God would not like? Or
approve of?
I cried out to him with my mouth; His praise was on my
tongue. If I had cherished sin in my heart,
the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and has heard my
prayer. Psalm 66: 17-19
Once we have checked our heart and mind, then we need to
fill it with the Word of God, that we can honestly give God glory and honor. We
may need to start with the verses below!
Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast
spirit within me. Do not cast me from
your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your
salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. Then I will teach
transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. Deliver me from
the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior, and my tongue will
sing of your righteousness. Psalm 55:10-14
Once we have prayed a prayer of confession , admitting that
we re not perfect and that yes we fail from time to time, we can boldly go to
the throne of grace and thank Him for forgiving
us. Then ask God to guide our steps.
Trust Him to do it!
This may sound like a
lot, after all you are already running late today how can you possibly get all
this in one prayer? Keep going! If you look below you will see a suggested
prayer to start your day!
Heavenly Father, Thank you for today, forgive me of my
failures or things I have done to be wrong in your sight, help me to walk with
a pure heart and mind today! Help me to listen to Your voice in Your Word
today. Guide my steps and put a check on my mouth that only words appropriate
to say will come out. Stop my complaints
and help me to speak the truth in love, and know the truth is from You. Grant
me a song in heart and a bounce in my steps as I go on doing Your will in Jesus’s
name…
Now go on with your day, check out the chapters mentioned
above on your lunch break! Or listen to them in your car on the way to work. Be
blessed as you continue, in His Word.
Teresa Wilson