For this reason I bow my knees before the Father
Ephesians 3:14a
“I just don’t have the time. I pray on the way to work.” I’ve heard that so many times throughout my ministry. I sometimes chuckle inside because it is so challenging to drive, put on makeup (if you’re a woman), look out for speeding cars who brake quickly in front of you, stop at red lights, and veer in and out of traffic to miss the train, while you humbly pray to your Father in heaven. Honestly, it’s just hard to be that focused.
I used to think that praying was about giving God a list of gifts I wanted. Seriously! Around December every year, I would begin praying about the specific toys that I wanted to show up under our tree on Christmas day. I would pray feverishly. God, please make that red bicycle appear on Christmas morning. I sure would like a new Atari game, but You already know that because You are God. Oh wait, and that Superman costume. Can’t forget about that one. So I have faith that You will make it happen. That was my prayer life as a child. They were just a list of wants.
I didn’t have a clue that prayer was so much more.
Prayer is that necessary component of our personal lives that we so often leave out because of priorities.
Prayer Should be a Priority
Prayer shouldn’t be the thing we do when we get into crisis. I know that sounds crazy, but let me explain. Prayer should be the thing we do before the emergency occurs. So often, our crisis leads us to do what we should have been doing all along. A man goes into the hospital for heart surgery. He comes out determined to stay away from ribs, barbecue, and salt. Those are activities he should already do. But the crisis of heart surgery changes his priorities.
It’s that way with all of us from time to time but think about the priority of prayer. Is it a priority? Is it really? I know we do all kinds of things like read the Bible, go to church, sing in worship, and work around the church building. But is prayer a priority in our lives? Do we intentionally place it before other activities on our schedule?
It was a priority for Paul.
Prayer Should be a Passion
When Paul says that he bows his knees before his Father, this is passion and intention. Paul’s passion for prayer is more than a priority. Throughout the gospels, Paul writes about his prayer life, and we can understand how it is a priority. But just for a minute this morning, picture Paul. He is in a small corner of his house away from the door and windows. He kneels with both knees begins to talk to his Father and pray for all of the people on his prayer list.
Now, if anyone had a prayer list, it was Paul. All of the churches he helped start, all of the people he met, all of the children he encouraged, and all of the ministers he knew were all part of that list. Who’s on your list? Do you have a list? Could you start a list? Will you start a list?
What makes Paul’s prayers so passionate is that he, without uncertainty, believes God will answer those prayers.
When you pray, do you pray like God will answer? Those are passionate prayers of faith.
I want to encourage you to pray a prayer about yourself this morning. Pray that God will help you discover a time and place of solitude for you to pray each day. Here’s what I promise. As you do, God will honor those prayers and give you that place. Don’t be distracted by that big truck that cuts you off on the way to work. Find your special place where it can be only you and God. There, you will find those special times.