Category: Kingdom Thoughts

Have You Prayed Today?

Have you prayed today? Your answer to that question speaks volumes. Prayer should be a foundation in our lives. Prayer is an expression of our love for God. Prayer is a reminder of our dependence on God. Prayer is a fruit produced in a life of humility. Prayer is taught, modeled and encouraged by Jesus. Prayer is something that the heart of a believer longs for and yet at the same time it often feels as though here is some great chasm we must cross to be able to embrace it.

Prayer should be of the highest priority in our lives and yet it often becomes one of the lowest. Our busy lives and the constant noise and distractions of our lives often keep us from prayer. Prayer becomes something that we do quickly over a meal, or maybe remember just before we sleep and so we toss up a quick “Now I lay me down to sleep”. It seems as though sometimes there is just not enough time in our lives to allow for prayer.

Interestingly, we almost all seem to have enough time to worry. Worry and fear are the hallmarks of our culture. We have come to believe that our security and personal safety are the highest priorities and values in our lives. Worry and fear have caused us to lose focus and perspective. They have caused us to stop trusting God. They have weakened our faith. They have caused us to lean on our own understanding and abilities to try and make everything somehow work.

Worry and fear are the opposite of prayer and faith. Our question becomes, will we allow ourselves to be consumed by our culture and become a people of worry and fear, or, will we remember what it means to be a child of God, a citizen of the Kingdom, and choose to be people of prayer and faith.

I have been talking over the last weeks and months about the radical life that God has called us to. We have talked about radical generosity, radical hospitality, the radical message and the radical love of God. We also need to talk about and embrace becoming a people of radical prayer. Prayer needs to fill up the time that worry has managed to take hold of in our daily lives. We need to remember and utilize the simple prayers we have discussed. The prayer of “Help” and the prayer of “O God, O God, “O God”. We must learn to catch ourselves every time we give in to fear and worry and turn it over to God in prayer. Our prayers just need to be simple and honest communication with our heavenly Papa.

Have you prayed today? That is a question comprised of four simple words that can help us to become a people of radical prayer. A people that trust in God. A people who are not afraid of all that the culture fears. A people of God who can embrace the mission and adventure He has called us to. A people of God willing to take risks for Him when He asks us to. A people of God who live radical lives, displaying radical hospitality, generosity and love, and sharing His radical message with a lost and fearful world.

Have you prayed today? I want to start working that question into our dialogue. Not as a judgment, not as a pointing of the finger. I want us to use that four worded question as an encouragement. As a call to prayer. As a reminder to move away from the trap of worry. Have you prayed today? If not, take some time and pray now. Engage with God about what is happening in your life. Talk to Him about your hurts and hang-ups, your fears and concerns. Share with Him your hope and joys. Talk to Him as you would with anyone you are in relationship with. He is listening. He loves it when you talk to Him. He has the power to change things and even better, He has the power to change you.

Tags: encourage, encouragement, Jesus moment, ministry of encouragement, prayer, Preaching in Shorts

Category: Kingdom Thoughts

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