In my own words, here’s what my sister shared with me from her pastor: pray once. Then hush and have faith. God heard you. He’s not deaf.
What a concept. So may times we’re busy bruising our knees to convince God of our need, and perhaps better would to be ask with faith and then to continue about our business…
‘And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands as we commanded you; that ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” {1 Thess 4:11,12}
What if I truly lived that way? The Bible says to pray without ceasing. Why do we think that means for the same thing, over and over and over again? Why don’t we hush sometimes and give God time to work according to his plan and priorities?
Mara asks for water in her princess cup, or food, or help, or play-dough; I answer, “I’m getting it now, just a moment,” or “Not now,” or “Yes, in a few minutes.” When she keeps asking I say, “No more asking. You already have my answer.”
I need to apply this instruction to myself. What if, what if? What if we went about our business and took every new thing, moment, idea, hurt, need to God as we worked with our own hands? What if the ceaseless prayer wasn’t repetition of what we’re letting ourself worry about or wanting most, but was a continual lifting up, accepting, praising, thanking, listening?
What kind of wisdom does He pour out that we miss because we’re too busy telling HIm why we need wisdom? How many problems solved if we quit nagging Him and just asked, once, then quietly and confidently went about our business, listening to and thanking Him as we did?
You may pray for an hour and still not pray. You may meet God for a moment and then be in touch with Him all day. {Fredrik Wisloff}
Accustom yourself gradually to carry Prayer into all your daily occupation — speak, act, work in peace, as if you were in prayer, as indeed you ought to be. {François Fénelon}
There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. {Brother Lawrence}
Image courtesy of
Rassing. Quotes from
Tentmaker.org.