Continue earnestly in prayer! What a thought. Even this morning as I began this quiet time, I
dashed off a few words of prayer: “God, speak to me today.” Then I read this
verse, and the Holy Spirit convicted me – this was not earnest prayer. No
thought. No passion. Just what I was supposed to do. So I stopped right then
and confessed my sin of passionless prayer. I begged God to speak to my heart
during my quiet time and to give me a day filled with a heart-felt desire to
continue earnestly in prayer. No more going through the motions because there
are so many needs to pray about and so many things for which to be grateful.
And that’s how Paul continues – being vigilant in prayer
with thanksgiving. Have you ever thought about being vigilant in prayer? I
cannot say that I have ever gone through my day “looking for” things to pray
about. Things that need my prayer. Most of the time I just let things come to
me – people mention a need and I pray. I talk to someone who asks and I pray.
Think of how it would change our lives if we were to be constantly on the
lookout for people who need our prayer. NO more just praying when the thought
hits you but aggressively, vigilantly watching for things that need prayer and
then praying. And doing it all with a grateful heart: grateful for the
privilege and power of prayer; grateful for the opportunities to pray; grateful
for a God who hears and responds to our prayers; and yes, grateful for the very
answers He sends our way.
Just yesterday I ran into a man that had come to our
church on numerous occasions needing some financial assistance. He and his
family had lost their home and were living in a motel room. He had no job and
could find no help from the community agencies. As we ministered to him on each
of these occasions, I encouraged him to pray and trust God. He came up to me
and told me that he had remembered those words and kept on praying. Now he has
a good job and is living in a house and his needs are being met. Praise the
Lord! And thank you, God, for earnest prayer!
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