ALL PRAYER!

Most Sunday’s I wear cufflinks to church- I don’t need to- I want to. They are an unnecessary accessory but I like them. They are just a little something extra I add to my “Sunday clothes”. Accessories are those things we wear, or add to our cars, or use to decorate our home that are nice but they are merely added to the finished product. They are not the main focus.

I hope you never view prayer as an accessory in the Christian life. Prayer is more than something we add on to our Christian life. Prayer is much more. Jack Taylor once said, “If prayer is anything prayer is everything!” I believe that. Paul did too. In Ephesians 6:18, after describing the spiritual armor we have to put on daily to do battle with the world, the flesh, and the Devil, Paul said there is one more thing to put on to cover all of your life – PRAYER! “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.” 

Paul knew prayer involves our everything- in the verse above he uses the word “all” 4 times! “Praying at ALL times…with ALL prayer…with ALL perseverance…for ALL the saints…” Prayer is not an accessory or an addition or an extra- it is how we live in Christ! ~jkb

SCRIPTURE READINGS:

Express: Romans 8

Advanced: 1 Corinthians 14; Mark 6; Ephesians 4

Challenge: Luke 7-11; Galatians 1-3

SCRIPTURE MEMORY:

1) Acts 2:42

2) 1 Thessalonians 5:17

 PRACTICAL “TIPS ” FOR YOUR DAILY PRAYERS:

Many believers get distracted and their minds wander when they pray…It happens to everyone at times…here are 3 “tips” to keep you focused:

1) Turn off the electronics! If it lights up, buzzes, chirps, dings or rings- KILL IT! (AT least while you are praying!

2) make a prayer list and keep it where you can get to it when you meet God for prayer. Write out the areas you want to pray about ahead of time and follow the guide.

3) THE MOST HELPFUL TIP FOR PRAYING WITHOUT A WANDERING MIND….PRAY OUT LOUD! SILENT PRAYERS CAN EASILY LOSE THE TRAIN OF THOUGHT- BUT PRAYING OUT LOUD KEEPS YOU FOCUSED! 

                          Have a great day as you pray!