Living on a Prayer.

Prayer. How often do you do it? I mean, really, intimately get to talk with God? Answering honestly I'd say far less often than I wish.  It is something so powerful. Yet I fear as a society we take it so lightly... But if we look to the Bible, it is so highly regarded in the life of a believer, in the life of Jesus. Just in studying Acts, the first church was constantly together in prayer. Acts 1:14, 2:42, 3:1, 4:24-31 and 6:6 are full of examples of this, and that is only the beginning.

Jesus. During his ministry on earth he often went off alone to spend time with the Father.  Luke 5:16 tells us "But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray." If someone as righteous and holy as Jesus needed alone time with God, how much more does a sinful person like me need it? Just saying. Again in Mark 1:35, "In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there." This was a pattern in His life, not a one time special prayer request that Jesus was shooting up to the Father.  A discipline to be alone in the morning, day and night if you recall before His crucifixion He went alone to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.

And how often does Paul urge us to pray without ceasing? Probably because he knows the enemy stands by waiting to get us while we're down... Prayer is our best defense! All of the following verses encourage us in the area of prayer:

• Philippians 4:6 - "...but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 - "Pray without ceasing."
• Romans 12:12 - "Be [...] faithful in prayer."
• Ephesians 6:18 - "And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests."
• Colossians 4:2 - "Continue steadfastly in prayer..."  

It is my prayer that in my time here in Virginia, that I would be better at prayer and grow deeper in my prayer life. But for some reason, it doesn't come naturally to me. Now I realize it's just talking to God. But my mind is as easily distracted as a child in a candy shop when I close my eyes to pray. So if you'll join in praying that over me, I would so greatly appreciate it! It's my prayer request for the next 8 weeks here and it is a discipline in the fact that it requires practice. Waking up earlier to spend more time in prayer without back falling asleep. 

I have just one last verse to share with you that I hope will rock your world like it did mine. It is from Hebrews 7:24-25, "But Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently. Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them." Did you catch what it says at the end... He intercedes for us. How humbling that the Son of Man prays for us daily. This is the same God who we have the privilege of meeting with every morning, Creator of the universe for from him and through him and to him are all things. I encourage you to meet with Him today if you haven't already.