Laced With Grace

Everything.  Every single thing we do should begin with prayer. 

Now, before you think I’m nuts, I am not talking about asking God to help you pick out a pair of socks.  For crying out loud!  He gave us a brain to decide for ourselves….

What I am talking about is giving our day to Him before it begins…  Deciding at the onset of the day that we will use every opportunity to glorify Him and praise in in everything.

  “Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God’s will in Christ Jesus that you do this.”  (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 GWT)

The “whatever happens” is where we all get hung up.

This time in 2008 we found it hard to give thanks in “all things”….but we pressed in, and pressed on, and did it regardless.

What happened when we gave thanks?  When we praised?  Our minds left our problems and focused in on God the Father.  OUR FATHER.  Who is Soveriegn above all–and HIS decisions can be trusted.

I love to drive down the road with Jesus.  We have the MOST amazing times!   I’m not some super-spiritual-woman-of-God…but I am a woman who loves time with her Lord and Savior….so when I get in the car–it is a purposed act to invite Jesus to be part of my day–especially our “time” in driving.

This act of purposed praise and prayer began several years ago when I would leave the house for work too early for me to even think about getting a Bible out for devotion.  I bought a New Testament on CD–which is totally read by women.  It was like having a few girlfriends along sharing the Word!

I would start the drive off by talking to Jesus.  Praising and praying about the day.  Then I would pop a CD in to hear what He had to say.  Sometimes I would just sing and my sister, Aimee would call me and we would share some tidbits from the Word or from a small devotion book we were reading at the time.

Mostly in my driving, I would pray.  Out loud.  That’s just me–I need to hear with my own ears sometimes what I’m saying to my Father.  I had about an hour drive–and I after struggling with that drive for many years without spending needed time in prayer–I discovered the best part of my day was the drive with Him.  Through the times of silent prayer—or out loud prayer–HE WAS THERE.

I found that the more time I spent praying and praising–the better I could handle whatever what thrown my way that day.  If I neglected it…well, you can just imagine how it might have been handled.  Not southern sweet tea style for sure!

Begin with prayer.  In everything.  Every single thing you set out to do–begin with prayer.  You will be amazed at how God will speak to you, through you, and how His very presence will go before you!

What are some things you can change to  give Him MORE?

• Get up a little earlier, even if it’s just 15 minutes. That habit will grow you–and you will soon find you are getting up even 30 minutes earlier. (Use it for time with Him though, not computer, not laundry, etc.)
• Pause before your tasks throughout the day and thank Him for the ability to do what you are about to do.
• Praise Him throughout the day….OUT LOUD.  He loves this!
• Share Him with another.  Give a sister a hug and tell her that Jesus loves her–so much that HE gave HIS ALL.  He expects no less from us.

Pray the day through…then let’s begin it!

© Angie Knight 2012–The Knightly News. All rights reserved.  Used by permission.

The sun bounced off the surface of the water, leaving diamonds in its wake. A crisp, cool breeze ruffled the leaves in the small trees planted along the edge of the sidewalk. It was a perfect day for a walk,  one of those days that somehow draws us a little closer to heaven.

I walked breathing in the cool, fresh air and, as often happens when I walk alone, I began to pray. There have been so many desperate needs in recent months – needs that are beyond the ability of mere humans to meet. Apart from the Lord’s intervention, there would be no hope. It is a comfort to place the burden into His capable, gracious hands and know that He hears and answers prayer.

I crossed the street and began walking near the man-made pond, with its fountains shooting plumes of water into the air. The ducks, sunning themselves in the grass,  saw me coming and waddled quickly down  into the water. They have made the long journey from the north and are wary of strangers. A little thought flitted across the my mind as I watched them – a little problem that had been worrisome. I brushed it aside, saying with the mental gesture that I didn’t think it was important enough to pray about. Or more correctly, saying I didn’t think the Lord would want to be bothered by anything so trivial.

In that moment I felt a gentle reprimand – a reminder that there is nothing in my life He considers insignificant. Every need, every care, every sorrow, every struggle, every disappointment, every thing that affects me is important to Him. He is the God who knows “when I sit down and when I rise up;” who is “acquainted with all my ways;” who knows what I will say “even before there is a word on my tongue; whose  thoughts about me, were I to count them, ” would outnumber the sand.” (Psalm 139)

He is the God who “counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.” (Psalm 147:4)  Jesus said of Him, “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from Your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Therefore do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.”  (Matt. 10: 29-31).

Never doubt the depth of the Father’s love for you. Everything that touches you is important to Him. As far as He is concerned, there is nothing insignificant in your life. It all matters to Him. You can bring Him all of your “impossibles” and all of the little things that don’t seem worthy of His attention. He bends down low and listens. He delights to hear your voice. He longs to draw you close and love you lavishly. You are absolutely safe in His care.

Blessings,

Linda

Picture: the little sparrows who have come for a drink from our birdbath – the sparrows He sees and cares for

Do you get distracted when you pray?

I have to admit that at times …I do.

I begin by praising God for who He is.  I thank Him for what He has done.  I acknowledge my trust in Him.  But as I begin to get into my time of intercession, suddenly my mind wanders to my to-do list or something flashes through my mind that I forgot to do.  Before I realize it, more time has gone by and I have to get ready for work.

At night as I lie in bed, I pray.  I realize the next morning that I fell asleep while I was praying.

Before Jesus was arrested, He went to Gethsemane to pray.  He took Peter, James and John with Him.

Mark 14:32-34 says: “They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  ”My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them.  ”Stay here and keep watch.”

While Jesus was praying, He asked a simple request of His disciples.  Stay here and keep watch.

Mark 14: 37-38 says: “Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping.  ”Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep?  Could you not keep watch for one hour?  Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.  The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

I have to admit that I probably would have been like Peter and fallen asleep.  I feel saddened as I think of that.

I thank God for His grace and mercy.

I started including a few helps for me to use during my prayer time to keep me focused.

• I use 3×5 cards with Scripture verses that I pray back to the Lord.
• I have a book called “31 Days of Praise” by Ruth Myers and I often use it as I praise Him.
• I keep a list of prayer requests in front of me.
• I sometimes sing to the Lord (even though I may be off key).
• I have learned that it’s OK to continue my prayers throughout the day.

My list certainly isn’t complete but I know that you have some thoughts and points you might add to help me and others who get distracted.

Will you offer some suggestions for those who get distracted when they pray?

Blessings and love,