First, because it would be easy for me to get caught up in watching TV (not that there is that much good to watch, it can become mindless activity that steals the day away), I have made a commitment to fast from daytime TV.
Second, I will commit myself to begin my day and end my day in deliberate prayer.
In 1535, an old friend of Martin Luther – his barber, in fact, a man named Peter Beskendorf – asked Luther for counsel concerning prayer. How could he deepen his prayer life? How could he pray effectively, and keep things fresh along the way? Luther responded with a little treatise titled, How One Should Pray, for Master Peter the Barber. The booklet is simple and straightforward, full of practical pastoral advice. Luther reminded his friend “to let prayer be the first business of the morning and the last at night. Guard yourself carefully against those false, deluding ideas which tell you, ‘Wait a little while. I will pray in an hour; first I must attend to this or that.’ Such thoughts get you away from prayer into other affairs which so hold your attention and involve you that nothing comes of prayer for that day.”
You would think a minister like me would hold to a regular time of morning prayer. However, I have found that I can become distracted by a task that needs to be done, a visitation that needs to be made, a meeting that needs attending, or a sermon that needs to be written, and I say to myself, "Wait a little while. I will pray in an hour; I first must attend to this or that." Before I know it the day is done. I do offer prayers throughout the day often on the run. However I doubt the depth and efficacy of prayer when it is always on the run. There is great value to be gained by having a deliberate time to be alone with God.
Also I have learned that it can be helpful to find a place for prayer. If you find a specific place, somewhere that is quite and comfortable with little distractions, both your mind and your body will begin to acclimate to this time of prayer. This place, when frequented for prayer, can become a holy place.
Third, I will commit myself to becoming more God aware. I will begin each day by challenging myself: Can I focus my soul on God and surrender to his presence throughout the day? Can I keep God in my mind today, regardless of what I am doing? Can I affirm with the psalmist who says "I have set the Lord always before me"? I don't know how successful I will be in this commitment but I look forward to what I may see as I deliberately look for God throughout the day.
When we're deeply in love with someone we think about them when we get up in the morning and when we go to sleep at night - we think of them all the time! Think about how this can happen with Jesus. As we think about him more I would imagine we will grow more and more in love with him! What a great thought!
When we're deeply in love with someone we think about them when we get up in the morning and when we go to sleep at night - we think of them all the time! Think about how this can happen with Jesus. As we think about him more I would imagine we will grow more and more in love with him! What a great thought!
God, you are my God, I am seeking you,
my soul is thirsting for you,my flesh is longing for you,a land parched, weary and waterless;I long to gaze on you in the Sanctuary,and to see your power and glory.
Your love is better than life itself,my lips will recite your praise;all my life I will bless you,in your name lift up my handsPsalm 63:1-4
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