Today and the next couple days, I will be addressing a few questions that are important to Anna, my dear friend and coworker. They are matters I feel are very worthwhile and pertinent to all of us, day in, day out, regardless of our stage of spiritual maturity. They are also things that I think we all struggle with regardless of our station in life. So, let’s get to it. Her first question is: “What are ways to stay close to God throughout the day, especially when days are busy and move fast?”

In several of the entries earlier in the year we have talked about how we (humans) get off track – deception and distraction. Those who are more spiritually mature don’t struggle quite as much with the deception aspects as we do the distraction. We know what is right and wrong, we just get caught up in life and get pulled off track with the “busyness” of the day. We simply “forget” that we are supposed to pray and keep our focus on the eternal nature of what is happening rather than focusing on the circumstances. In one word, I think the answer lies in prayer. Let me explain.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 we have one of the Bible’s shortest verses: “Pray continually.” Well, if you are like me, that is not the easiest thing to do because of the distractions of everyday life. Since our body is never truly “saved” our senses are attracted to or pulled by people and circumstances that we see, hear and experience. The touches, tastes, smells and visual distractions can occupy our minds full time if we allow them. So, it is not natural for us to pause and pray. That is why we have God’s Spirit inhabiting our bodies – to make it God’s Temple, or a natural place of prayer according to 1 Corinthians 3:16. When we look at the next verse (17) we see that when people allow the harmful aspects of life to infect that temple, it ends up destroying them physically – yes, even Christians in order to save their soul (1 Corinthians 5: 4 – 5). So we must find a way to discipline our minds into continuous prayer, and that is NOT the easiest discipline to apply. Paul mentions it regularly because of its importance and relevance to spiritual maturity as we see conceptually (I Romans 1:9 – 10 and 2 Timothy 1:3).

Here is what I would share with you and how I have tried to make it part of my life:

1. Ask God to burden your heart to pray. Admit to Him that you struggle with praying all the time and it simply does not feel natural during the course of the day. Use the skeleton prayer of Jabez to pray something like this: “Lord God of Israel, I ask that you bless me with the desire to pray. Expand my mind to see what/who I need to pray for and how you are at work through my prayers. Keep your hand on me so that your Spirit directs my heart to pray so that I may bless others with your power, rather than cause pain. I know you hear and answer this prayer.”
2. Ask God to remind you that when He brings people and circumstances to mind that is His way of telling you to pray over them. You WEREN’T just thinking about someone or something – He is burdening your heart to release the power of prayer so his Kingdom might be strengthened.
3. Know that God EXPECTS you to pray continually about things and people that come to mind. In Isaiah 65:24 we see that God answers the prayers of our hearts before we utter them. So, it must be HIM that implants the ideas and concepts for us to use through prayer to release the power available through His Spirit. He is enabling us to be strong, impact our lives and those around us if we will just pray about what is on our heart.

So, to Anna and my family, we must remember that praying continually is the key to keep our sanity and a semblance of order in this hectic world. I admit it is not easy but we must focus on these three principles. Keep at it – it will come. Love Dad.