How is 2018 treating you so far? I don't usually do resolutions, but I do take time to evaluate my life, and see where I need to make some positive changes. This year, I knew there were several areas I need to work on. Most involved my spiritual walk.
On New Year's Eve I heard a powerful sermon on prayer. The pastor said your prayer life should be as important to your spiritual life as breathing is to your physical life. Wow!! That's serious! I had already been feeling convicted b/c God and I were not where we needed to be. Ok, I wasn't where I needed to be. He hadn't gone anywhere. We (my family) were going through the toughest season we've ever gone through. And I was angry - mostly with God. So I let my quiet time slip. I would still pray - some - but it was usually begging God to help us. As the craziness of the Christmas season passed, I realized I needed to make a change. I missed my time with God. I knew my peace came from Him, so why wasn't I spending more time basking in His presence?
Then our church announced the upcoming discipleship classes for the next 6 weeks, and guess what one of the classes was on - PRAYER. Ok, God, I get it. This is where I need the most work.
So the last couple of weeks I've been working on my prayer life. I'm doing my quiet time again, and as God brings things to mind, I pray about them. I pray off and on all day. I'm more intentional about prayer for the needs of those around me. You know when someone says "please pray for ______"? Do you? Do you add it to your prayer list? When someone posts something on social media, and you say "I'll be praying for you", do you mean it? Do you do it? Prayer is the most powerful tool we have as Christians. Why don't we use it more?
My situation hasn't changed, but I have more peace than I did this time last month.
I want to encourage you to spend some time in serious prayer. Not just going through your checklist of things to ask for. But actually spending time talking to God, and then listening to what He has to say back to you.
Hugs, friends!
