Baptist Church San Diego

As a Pastor, I am often grieved when well meaning Christians do not make use of prayer more often. Prayer is both a privilege and a duty.  I have heard many bemoan the fact that they don’t pray more (don’t we all?), but when challenged to make practical changes to ones schedule, there is usually a list of excuses.
I hope to offer some basic insights here to help:
It was said of Hudson Taylor that he was so busy during the day with his ministry at China Inland Mission, that he found it difficult to find time for private prayer. His solution was not to skip prayer on an habitual basis, but rather he arose from 2-4am for private communion with God. This may not be possible for everyone, but the main idea I want to make, if this is a high enough priority for you, you will make time “somewhere” in your day.

David McIntyre in his book on private prayer offers 3 “Q’s” that I found helpful

1. Quiet Place: Most all of us can find a quiet place. Some may not, such as those in the Military or living in dorms. But most of us can find “somewhere” quiet to retreat to. Many homes until the last 150yrs, had but 2-3 rooms, and usually one closet.  This was often the prayer closet for people of faith.

2. Next, we need a quiet hour. Not exactly 60 minutes, though that is good, but a good portion of time directly to this duty, with all distractions removed, including Face Book, Twitter, email, newspapers, radio’s and even other people. This takes diligent forethought and even self denial from many good things. “Enter our closet, shut the door, and pray to our father in secret” I personally rarely spend an uninterrupted hour in prayer, but the key is a habit of continual prayer. By God’s grace, I rarely miss this special time with my God.  I liken it to spiritual hygiene.  Most of you don’t neglect personal hygiene like brushing your teeth and bathing.  Well, spiritual hygiene is just as important. Luke records for us that Jesus often was withdrawing himself to pray and commune with His Father in Heaven.

3. Quiet Heart. By these terms, I think the author wants us to have a focused steadfast heart. The reality is sometimes we don’t feel like praying. We must pray “until we pray”. John Bunyan speaking from his own experience wrote “O! the starting holes that the heart has in the time of prayer; none knows how many bye ways the heart has, and back-lanes to slip away from the presence of God” Surely after we have prayed, our minds are girded for action, our thinking and worldview have been shaped so that we are then able to share Christ, offer peace and show Christian love to other.

So when our hearts are sluggish, dull, we must rekindle our love and affection for our dear Savior by persevering in prayer, amazing ourselves of the magnitude of the Love of God to us manifested by the holy life and horrible death of Jesus Christ, all for unworthy sinners. “Full atonement, can it be? Hallelujah, what a Savior!”

Do you have time to Pray? Dare I say that each one reading this blog will surely have to answer a resounding YES. Go now from here thinking of ways to redeem the time for His Glory discover afresh the joy and blessings of sweet communion with God!

Pastor Curt