Prayer to Go
“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." Romans 8:15
What is prayer time to you? Is it a daily duty or a lifeline to get through the day? Is prayer time a powerful weapon? It can be all these and more, however for me it also looks like this. Prayer is just plain talking, discussing and sharing my heart with Abba Father.
We need to be men of prayer; for it nurtures the rich communion between the Father and us. It orchestrates our will and spirit with His, enabling us to stand firm, and act in a manner that honors the Father. That communion permeates every part of our life, strengthening relationships, values, judgments, and our willingness to obey. The closeness we can develop with the Father through our prayer life will be thick with His love; it becomes a shelter, and a refuge.
Although I sincerely believe all that, this is a still a major area of wrestling with consistency for me, and I suspect for other men as well. Sometimes we approach prayer like a fast-food drive through window. Oh man, we can get it the way we like it and we can get it to go! A prayer life that consistently does a drive by will never develop a deep relationship with the Father.
Ever been to a diner? Diners are fantastic places and only exist in their purest form in the NY metropolitan area, which makes me feel sorry for the rest of the USA. Some of the best times I’ve experienced were in a diner having breakfast with a brother. Man, it’s awesome, big plates of food, and they keep serving coffee until you’ve drunk gallons and look like Juan Valdez by the end of breakfast.
The best thing about the whole experience, and it is an experience, is that they don’t rush you out the door! You can spend hours talking, sharing, and learning more about the person you are with. For me it is a truly wonderful spiritual time, and I don’t even speak in tongues when I‘m there (although with mouths full of food, it can be a little difficult to tell the difference).
I have had prayer times just like the diner experience, where my plate is heaping full of God’s goodness and He keeps pouring joe (coffee, for those who are caffeine challenged) into my cup, simply because HE WANTS ME TO STAY. That’s a truth we need to chug like a rich dark roast. God, the creator of the universe who already knows you intimately (He made you), understands you completely (He made you), enjoys you thoroughly (He made you), and desires to be with you.
Let’s linger longer…
“I am of times driven to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I have
no where else to go. “ - Abraham Lincoln
Comments
However, when I approach God on a regular basis it's much easier to stay up to date. Not just with my stuff, but with what He's saying as well. Sometimes I forget that it IS a dialogue. :)