An Attitude of Prayer

They will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. (John 14:12)

There are some people that prayer seems like it is as natural as breathing to them. For others, it can be a daily struggle to set aside time for it and not rush into their day.

Of course, all of us fall into prayer easier when things are hard and life is tough. When life is good, or life is busy, that is when it’s hard – we have too much to worry about or too much to do. Stopping for even a short prayer time seems like a waste of time, when it can be the best use of time.

I think the bigger struggle is to do what Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22. It reminds me of parents giving final instructions to their child when leaving them at home alone – Paul gives them a whole list of things to remember to do. Buried in the middle of that is verse 17, where his command is to “Pray without ceasing.“

I think that is perhaps the very hardest aspect of our Christian walk to work on. It is easy for us to set aside a time to read the Word and pray to start or finish the day, but then we compartmentalize our day, thinking that our time with God is done and we can move on to the next – work, school, etc.

But while we may be finished with God, He is never finished with us.

As we go about our day, the Holy Spirit is with us, seeking to prompt prayer with Jesus and carry those prayers to the very throne room of God. How many unfinished conversations have I left with Jesus because I was too busy going about my day, rather than making Him an essential part of my day?

That is one of my hardest battles is to keep my spirit open and talking with Christ through my day. There is no biblical requirement of WHEN to pray.

Paul’s command is not to spend every waking minute on your knees, but to keep an attitude of prayer in your heart at all times, bringing Christ in to all aspects of our daily life.