15 Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, 16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 NRSV
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In this post we are going to talk about time with respect to spending time with God in prayer.
Many people are willing to do anything for the Lord, but many find it extremely difficult to take a break from their hectic schedules and spend time with God.
When it comes to Christianity, prayer is one of the most undervalued acts, when it should be the most important. When it comes to connecting with the Lord, there is no better way than through prayer. Prayer can be hindered by several factors, including lack of time, a full schedule, competing demands, and so on. “Prayerfully” is the only way to do anything, from reading the Bible to serving the Lord, and just going through our day.
Routine chores, urgent tasks, and distractions can make our days busy but unproductive. If we get caught up in things that distract us, we will find ourselves not accomplishing much of anything.
We often have little time left over to accomplish God’s purposes. It’s 11:00 p.m. and as you lie in bed, you feel a sense of panic because you realize that you didn’t do everything you meant to do today.
You feel like you’re constantly running out of time, and there’s never enough time to get everything done. This feeling is so common that it has its own name- the “time crunch. It’s a feeling of anxiety that we feel when we don’t have enough time to accomplish the things we need to do.
In comparison, God is vast and infinite. In fact, God doesn’t have a time limit. Think about that for a moment. It’s not like God said “I’ve got to be done before midnight or else I’ll explode. God is never-ending. God is eternal. So, the idea that you have to get everything done before midnight just isn’t realistic in God’s world.
Now consider this: if God is endless, then God will always be there for you.
You may feel disappointed when you don’t accomplish everything you planned on doing in a given time period. In our society, it seems that everyone is always in a hurry. We are constantly told that we need to hurry up and do this, or we need to hurry up and do that. There never seems to be enough time.
We are constantly running behind schedule, and we never seem to have enough time to get everything done that we want to do. This feeling that there is never enough time can be very frustrating.
The Challenge is how do we make the most of our lives? There is a feeling that many people have that there is never enough time. This feeling can be caused by many things, such as working long hours, taking care of children or aging parents, or just having too much to do.
Often, this feeling leaves people feeling anxious and stressed. One way to deal with this feeling is to try to simplify your life and focus on the things that are most important to you. You may also need to learn how to say “no” more often.
The secret is connecting with our heavenly Father. The secret is to pray and ask for what we need. Our needs may not always be material things, but wisdom, insight, a place to go that is peaceful and calm, more time in His presence.
You will find that He will help you and your family to be more successful, at school, work, or in life. The word “success” has many definitions. Being successful is not a matter of money, but rather, the meaning of our lives.
Successful people are not those who have the most; but rather, those who have what they need to be happy. Success is a matter of being happy, not about having more.
“Success” is not in what you have done, but it is in what you are doing. The secret to success is changing your attitude and improving yourself. There is no better way to do this than to sit in the presence of the Lord and allow Him to create His image and mind in us.
Do not be conformed to this world,[a] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 NRSV
As a result of one’s devotion, one’s life is transformed. Whereas in v.1, the call was made for a firm commitment of being a living sacrifice, whereas v.2 focuses on upholding that promise.
We must always be on guard to ensure that our original decision to serve God is not weakened. Children of God are at danger from “this world,” which has ways and thoughts that are all too easily able to encroach into their worldview. Those who have faith in God have been saved from this present era of wickedness.
When we walk hand in hand with God, obedient to each command, we will be sure to fulfill all He has planned for us.
In today’s society, it seems that everyone is always in a hurry. There never seems to be enough time to get everything done. This feeling that there is never enough time can be very frustrating and overwhelming.
It can make us feel like we are constantly running behind schedule and that we are not in control of our lives. The good news is that there are ways to deal with this feeling and to create more time in our lives.
Prayer is life’s greatest timesaver. There never seems to be enough time. We are constantly rushing from one obligation to the next with barely a second to spare. And yet, even when we have all the time in the world, it never feels like enough. This constant feeling of being short on time is known as chrono-anxiety. For some people, it’s a minor annoyance. But for others, chrono-anxiety can be debilitating, leading to stress and anxiety disorders.
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NRSV
In today’s society, it is often thought that in order to be successful, one must be constantly on the go and never show any signs of weakness. This is a mindset that is completely foreign to our Lord.
Jesus was never in a hurry and never became anxious. Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus calmly taking his time to minister to those around him. He never rushed through his conversations or healing sessions. He never became impatient or angry with those who did not immediately understand His message. He never tried to force others to listen or understand.
Jesus was a great example of patience and humility. He patiently taught the people, healed the sick, and revealed Himself to all who would listen.
There is no denying that Jesus was a committed prayer. He set aside time each day to talk with his Father in Heaven. Interestingly, he seems to have favored early morning and evening prayers. This may be due, in part, to the peace and solitude that come with the early morning hours and the quiet of the evening. Whatever the reason, Jesus’ example reminds us that prayer is an important part of our lives.
12 Now during those days he went out to the mountain to pray; and he spent the night in prayer to God. Luke 6:12 NRSV
In order to make an impact for God’s kingdom, one must be in communion with Him. This communion is cultivated through prayer. Jesus Himself was a man of prayer, and it was through this communion that He was able to do great things for the kingdom.
Those who have followed in His footsteps, such as Mother Teresa, have also made a great impact for the kingdom. They understood the importance of prayer and relied on it to guide them in their work. Jesus said: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
The Lord Jesus also taught us through the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids. (Matthew 25:1-13)
The wise bridesmaids came to the wedding and were accepted by Jesus, but the foolish bridesmaids were rejected. What they did not realize was that it was their own fault, and they had no right to be accepted by Jesus.
Jesus also said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (Mark 16:16). Prayer is an act and discipline of faith.
How frequently do you sit alone with your heavenly Father and pray? I pray that you will prioritize your time spent in prayer. Commit your day to God in the morning and thank Him for it throughout the day.
Ask for His help in avoiding distractions, and listen for His voice to help you get through the day. Be amazed at how much you can do for God’s kingdom through your efforts.
There is no Christian who does not pray. When we are in need, prayer takes us into the presence of God’s throne chamber of grace.
Through prayer, we can get to know God’s heart and have Him search ours. A time of prayer allows us to simply be with God and learn more about Him. When we pray in the name of Jesus, we engage in a conversation that is unlike any other.
13 I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. 15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:13-15 NRSV
There is power in the name of Jesus. The phrase “pray in the name of Jesus” is often used by Christians, and it refers to the practice of praying to God and asking for His help, guidance, or protection.
Two things about the death of Christ. The first was that since one person died for and in place of everyone else, everyone had died. What is this death at the end? Either the death they deserved because of their sin.
It’s odd how we often acknowledge that we take on too much, and try to accomplish things in our own strength, and need to rely more on Jesus. And yet we continue to do the same thing over and over.
The conscience is a divinely given moral compass that can be swayed by many factors, such as our background, experiences, and thoughts. What is important is the truth that one has to inform their conscience.
Life is rough for most people today. Just when we have hope of a life returning to normal, we are seeing things none of us have ever seen in our lifetime.
To grasp the magnitude of our deliverance, we must first comprehend where we came from. We are not exempt from the repercussions of our actions because we are descendants of Adam.
