In my office, I’ve created a prayer wall. On that wall, I’ve put pictures of some of the people that I pray for. Some of them are family. Some are friends that are as close as family. There are pictures of those whose ministry I pray for. There are also some that I pray would one day come to understand the unending love our Savior has for them. When I put this wall together, it was my intention to find dedicated time to sit and pray for these individuals. My desire was to close my door, sit in silence and pray for these people daily.
That hasn’t happened lately. I’ve been really hard on myself because I haven’t been doing this like I did previously. The demands of a busy schedule and elongated to-do list have made these times fewer and less frequent.
Because of this lack of following through on my initial intentions I’ve been hard on myself lately. Then one day the Spirit ministered to me. I heard the gentle whisper on my heart that just because I don’t sit and have dedicated time to pray for these men and women as often as I once did, doesn’t mean I’m failing them and not lifting them up to our Father. I was quickly reminded of times when as I’m working I would look up and see the picture of my lifelong friend Don and would pray that his marriage would continue to grow stronger even as his wife is away on missions trips in Asia. I often look up and see a picture of friends who are in leadership in ministry. I pray that they would draw close to our Father in the midst of all of the decisions that have to be made. Then there’s the one actor whose movies I grew up watching. I have no idea if he knows our Savior personally, he just may. But I was reminded of how often I pray that he would someday come to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ!
There is absolutely a need in our days to have a dedicated time set aside to not only pray, but to listen. It’s important to our spiritual health. But prayer doesn’t always have to be a dedicated time alone. In 1 Thessalonians Paul instructs the church at Thessalonica to never stop praying. We are instructed to go about our daily routines with an attitude of prayer, being in constant communication with the Holy Spirit.
What does that look like? Do we need to walk around all day reciting a Gregorian chant like a Benedictine Monk? Of course not! It’s about being in sync with the Holy Spirit in our daily walk. In those times when someone comes to mind that you haven’t seen or heard from in months, pray for them. When you feel the warmth of the sun on your left arm as you drive home from work, thank the Creator of Light. We’re not limited to asking for help, provision or wisdom only when we’re on our knees with our hands folded and our heads bowed. We’re called to bring our requests (and our praises) to our Heavenly Father throughout our day.
I love what I heard Max Lucado say on the radio recently. He said something to the effect of, “By giving God our whispering thoughts the common becomes uncommon, a commute becomes a pilgrimage. Let the kitchen become a cathedral or the classroom a chapel. Give God your whispering thoughts.”
Father God, in those times when something or someone comes to mind, it’s my prayer that we would not only be able to recognize what You’re showing us but that we would listen to what it is Your Holy Spirit wants us to bring to You. Lord, would you teach us what it’s like to walk in prayer, to be in constant communion with You throughout our days? Thank you for how your Holy Spirit prompts us to pray. In Your name Holy Father, Amen.
