Main Verse: I Thessalonians 5:17 (MSG)" .....pray all the time;....."
Main Thought: Pray Without Ceasing
Message:
Prayer is a powerful tool. However, I find it is my last resort instead of my first resource at times. I know for me personally, when I am faced with a hard situation, I feel I need to DO something to help things along or to fix the problem. When the reality is prayer changes things-if not my perspective or heart (and in most cases it has to do with me) the situation itself!
I am going to back up a little. Growing up I remember my quiet times, prayer and Bible reading were very important to me. I enjoyed a huge growth spiritually during my college years as I began to seek God all on my own and really own my faith. SO fast-forward to 1998. I had been married for two and a half years and was a few months away from delivering our first child when I began to consider all of the ways my life was going to change. I had no idea but I was soon to find out. I was doing good to get a shower and/or get dressed each day with a new baby, don't even think about a good healthy 30 minutes or more reading my Bible, worshiping or praying. I really felt my walk with God took a hit. I began to realize how much I had put God in a box. I would take Him out each day, make my requests, then put Him back-generally speaking. When I finally wised up that I really, really needed more of God and that I could actually interact with the Creator ALL day everyday-WOW!!! I read a book that helped me, and I began to pray as I changed diapers, did dishes and laundry, just all throughout my day. My devotional life felt alive again. I cherished the season before I had kids, but I was in a new season and enjoying it just as much. I felt that everyday tasks weren't so routine and mundane anymore and that my relationship with God was stronger. I was beginning to see that I Thessalonians 5:17 was ( and is) really attainable.
Maybe you find yourself exactly where I did or you simply want more, there is more to be had. When I was in the thick of raising young children my mom paid for a subscription to a Christian parenting magazine that helped me so much. Over the next two weeks I am going to break it down a bit and give you ideas on how you can Pray Without Ceasing. Today I am going to share two ideas.
One of the first things the article suggests is to begin to write down people and situations you want to pray over on sticky notes and post them anywhere and everywhere. This is so simple yet so effective in keeping a prayerful life at the forefront of your mind. Purchase some colorful sticky notes, right down who or what you want to be praying for (even include a verse if you can) and place them above your kitchen sink, bathroom mirror, on the back of the bathroom door, above the changing table, in your car or day planner, the side of your computer screen, anywhere you will see it and be reminded. One other resource that I have used and enjoyed is an app called Prayer Notebook. It is simple to use and you can even set alerts to remind you to pray for certain things. Very helpful tool.
Next week I am going to include several other ways to help develop a life of prayer so stay tuned and check back.
I'd love to hear from you-if you have found this helpful or even if you have a tip or a question. I would also love the opportunity to pray with you, feel free to contact me at tharrisphoto@gmail.com
God bless,
Tiffany
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