Does Prayer seem to be just so out there? Do you feel convicted that your prayer time is done on the run? A short sentence and out the door. Are you angered by lack of focus? You are praying and the next thing you know, you are planning your day, thinking about your next meal….REALLY!
As I was reading in Revelation 5, verse 8 talks about the golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints (believers). As these prayers are prayed, the bowls fill and tip over, pouring out God’s power. I thought about my “golden bowl” and the questions that are stated above, I too am bothered, convicted and saddened about my prayer time being robbed. Yes, even angered that I allow this to happen. We have this amazing privilege to come boldly before God’s throne. The amazing privilege to praise and worship and yes, bear our heart and soul, the frustrations, the hurts of our lives and I, yes, I, carelessly succumb to the “distractions” of this life. Hurled at me by Satan.
Satan wants us to be cumbered with life, so distracted, that we leave out the sustainer of LIFE, GOD ALMIGHTY. Yes, my righteous anger comes into play. I stop and ask for, GOD’s forgiveness and HIS HELP to keep me focused, consistent and earnest in my praying.
I know firsthand the struggles. Being a mom of four, while they were young, praying for those tender hearts was important. Oft times, I had to be creative. I wrote a post, Clothes in a Basket, about how I would pray for each of my family and I still pray for Rayburn as I fold his clothes. WE ARE AT WAR. That is not a profound statement! I know the fervent prayers of a righteous man and yes, a woman avails much. In a war there are strategic plans put in place, the goal, TO WIN!
Knowing that Satan does not want us to pray, his attacks are fierce, WE MUST HAVE A PLAN IN PLACE and WORK THAT PLAN. What works for me? My plan contains the following, I pray out loud! Yes, there are times I am on my knees, but other times, I walk, and I pray. I walk through my home. I love visuals, so those visuals are pictures of my family and friends. I stand in front of that picture and pray over specific needs. I stand in front of my clock that chimes and ask for discipline to use my time wisely. My refrigerator to help me use restraint on those delicacies that call out my name! My dining room for hospitality opportunities. I look inward and ask God to show me my sins and ask forgiveness. I John 4:9, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Then I will go to Rayburn’s office. There I know the prayers of a righteous man are prayed and I am humbled. I pray for protection for him, both spiritual and physical. I pray for wisdom as he leads. I pray for his work and yes, the desires of his heart; JOINWITHME.LIFE and his running, to name a couple. These prayers are prayed as I go throughout my home. Another plan of attack, I write prayers in my journal or on my WAR WALL. I love to write the date the prayer was answered! Another plan of attack, when I am out, if I pass a State Farm Insurance sign, I pray for our son Chris. When I see an urgent care clinic, I pray for Corbin. When I pass by our church, with its towering crosses visible from the interstate, I pray for the ministry as it beckons sinners to come and believers to be strengthened. These are just a few visuals.
Our God is not in a box, no right way or wrong way to pray. We need to be praying! The Devil, an adversary to us, goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. HE DOES NOT CARE how he destroys, how he discourages. PRAYER, OUR DEFENSE! OUR WAR STRATEGY! Let us be fervent, praying in faith, filling those bowels, because God longs to pour out HIS POWER and HIS BLESSINGS upon us.
I have shared a few of my war strategies for prayer. We can learn from each other. Would love to hear what you do to aid in your prayer time. One thing for sure, our God longs for us to come to HIM. To cast our ANXIETY upon HIM, BECAUSE HE DOES CARE FOR US, I Peter 5:7 (NIV).
