Scheduled Prayer Time

Busy Busy Busy, that is my life, as I am sure it is yours. I pray to God in some form every day. Sometimes they are just really fast zap prayers. If I am going through emails or Facebook and I see someone requesting prayers, I shot a quick one to God. Something divesting is reported on TV and up goes a prayer. Driving down the road and I see an accident, another short one to God.

Going through life sending God these one second prayers is a good thing. It reminds me that I have God on my side and keeps my mind focused on Him.

Romans 1:9
For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers.

When I am praying to God about my everyday small issues it makes me feel that I am praying with ceasing. I think this is what God was talking about in this verse. God should be with us always and on our mind.

Sometimes, I need to be formal with God. Carve out special times, shut out the world and really pour my heart out to my Heavenly Father. I don’t do these formal prayers as much as I should, but I believe that God knows my heart. That doesn’t mean I can use that as an excuse.

About three years ago my husband and I decided to pray together one night a week. I am proud of us for continuing that special time together. Every Tuesday evening at 8 pm, we turn off the TV, quite ourselves, sit together and hold hands and pray. We pray for our families, our friends, our elders, our deacons, our preacher and all the people we know that are hurting physically and emotionally. We ask God to continue to bless us, spiritually, emotionally and financially. We share with God and each other struggles that we are carrying on our hearts. Usually this takes about 15 minutes or sometimes it can take only 5 minutes. Either way, God can expect us around 8 pm on Tuesday evenings. Yes we have missed a few prayer times here and there. Things happen, life gets in the way and occasionally we just forget what day it is.

Not only has this time become special to us knowing we were going to speak with God, but it has brought my husband and I closer also. If one of us forgets, the other is the reminder. We can tell when an issue is bothering the other person, by the way they are praying, how emotional they get. Then this opens up time to share as husband and wife.

I highly recommend setting up some special time with your spouse or family to do some formal praying. You might be surprised at some of the subjects that are spoken about during these special times.

Share with me if you have special prayer times with your spouse of family.

Tired of waiting?

Do you ever get tired of waiting? Our lives have become so busy and we are constantly running from one appointment to another all day long. Occasionally we have to wait and when that happens it seems to take forever. It doesn’t matter what we are waiting on, it still takes forever. Sitting in a doctor’s office is probably one of the hardest things to do. I think we have lost the art of patiently waiting, I know I have.

If I have more than a three minute wait I tend to take out my phone and start scanning emails or playing a game. If I am going somewhere that I know there will be a long wait I take a book. I see a lot of people doing the same. Of course now a day the kindle or tablet may be the item of choice. No matter what the situation is, waiting is difficult. There is an old saying “hurry up and wait”, not sure where it came from, but it is appropriate. 

 What is your attitude like when you have to wait? If I am prepared for the wait, like the doctor’s office then I’m normally content. Unexpected wait time – well, not always a good thing. I get so impatient, Mix a little bit of irritation, along with a lot of grumpy and you get a whole lot of not a happy camper.

So how do we handle these situations that no one enjoys? We look to God for answers. First I have quit praying for patients because I figure He will keep sending me tests until I get it right. So now I pray for understanding and courage. Especially if there are others around me that are evidently getting in the same mood as I am. I normally will try to diffuse the situation and bring the mood back to an even level. I try to remember that nobody is trying to create this situation on purpose. I’ll trying pointing out some options to the person next to me to show that it may not be the doctor’s fault. Maybe someone is really ill and they had to call the ambulance, or maybe one of the doctor’s in the group is out for an emergency and they are all trying to cover for the missing doctor. Either way, try and diffuse the situation. There is no good that can come from getting so upset in a situation that is beyond my control.

The longest wait we have is waiting on the Lord. Each day is another day that we can spend either being upset with a situation or embrace it and know that one day all our waiting will be over. 

Psalm 27:14 - Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

What have you been waiting for? Share some of your ideas.