Too Busy to Pray

In case you are busy and only have time to read the first part of this week’s message, let me cut to the chase.  If you find that you are too busy to pray, you are a little too busy and something must change.  Like many of you, I am busy.  Some days it’s rush, rush, rush.  Most weeks we only sit down as a family for a meal once or twice due to our multiple comings and goings!  But prayer time...that’s a must.  Sometimes it’s a brief few words, and at other times it’s a much more engaged time with the Lord.  All prayer time is important and necessary. 

On Thursday evening around sunset, I was driving from Clover, SC home to Rock Hill, SC, only about 15 miles, but the windows were down and the temperature was perfect.  While stopped at a red light, I realized I had not adjusted the radio and it was silent in the car.  Almost reflexively I reached to adjust the volume, but decided to leave it off - that this was time I could spend with God. 

“Rejoice always, 17pray continually, 18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)  Scripture advises that we should always rejoice in the Lord and be grateful for our circumstances.  I don’t know your current situation, but it could be impacted by Covid-19 and it might not be preferred, BUT...it could be worse, and it might be preparation for something in the future!  (See Romans 5:3-5)  Sometimes we like to find a willing ear to listen to our complaints and unsolvable problems, when what we really need is to spend time with the Lord.  He hears all, knows all, understands all, and is our ever-present help in times of trouble.  We need to pray.  (See Psalm 46:1)

Luke 17, recalls a time when Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem along the border between Samaria and Galilee when 10 men afflicted with Leprosy approached him and asked for healing.  He sent them to the priest and all were cleansed and healed.  “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” (v. 15-16)  One of the ten returned to give thanks.  I don’t know if this is an indication that only 10% of answered prayers are acknowledged with thanks to the Lord, but be sure you thank the Lord for His answers to your prayers.  Thank Him again and again!  I have a forgetful fourteen year-old who often causes me to run back to the house for things he forgot.  This week, I thanked the Lord, again, for giving us a new home that was near work and school.  I don’t think He minds if we thank Him multiple times for hearing our prayers!  

Don’t become too busy to pray.  Be intentional with making time for prayer.  Additionally, know that prayer is not just a time when you pour out your needs and wants to God.  Prayer should be dialogue.  Once you have praised Him, repented of your sins, made your requests to Him, you must yield to Him.  When we yield, we are quiet, patient, and willing to accept His response - even if He answers in a way you didn’t propose!  When we are quiet we may hear or feel His gentle whisper, a new method may be revealed, the solution to your problem may be clear.  We must yield in obedience to Him recognizing that He is both omnipotent and omniscient - and we are not.  Amen.

Have a wonderful week of prayer.
Kim 

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