Pray

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Sunday school. As she ran she prayed, ‘Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late! Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late!’

While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again!

As she ran she once again began to pray, ‘Dear Lord, please don’t let me be late… But please don’t shove me either!’

Prayer. It’s a simple enough concept. But why is it so difficult to pray as the Bible teaches? In 1Thessalonians, Paul exhorts the church to ‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.’

Pray without ceasing? Who can live up to that standard? The bar seems to be set so high that we are tempted to not even try. But the ‘will of God in Christ Jesus’ is not to be ignored. We must try. So here it goes.  Begin with thanksgiving. Take a moment to give thanks to God for your loved ones. Then, as you go through the day, give thanks for each and every person with whom you come in contact. Pray for the bank teller, the store clerk, your neighbor and the guy who cut you off in traffic.

What will this accomplish? It will begin a habit. In any relationship there must be an open line of communication. Once you begin to speak to God on a regular basis you will notice a huge difference in the world around you. And the world around you will notice a huge difference in you.

See You Sunday!
Missy