Prayer
is focused time with God. There is no one perfect way to pray—each individual
connects with God in different ways. For some, it is reading scripture; for others,
it is reading poetry. Some might experience God’s presence while being out in
nature, singing, gardening, writing, or just verbalizing their feelings out
loud. Most of us enjoy these sweet times with the Lord on rare occasions. Why
are we not regularly clearing space for time alone with God? Well…because other
things get in the way. We have responsibilities, distractions, and long to-do
lists.
“The
only way to install the tenant of prayer in the apartment building of your life
is to evict some other tenant from those premises that prayer will occupy. Few
of us have any empty rooms available.” (Peter Kreeft) http://www.peterkreeft.com/topics/lesson-one.htm
This is so true for
me. I allot my best time in the early mornings for prayer. The house is quiet,
my mind is alert, and my to-do list has not yet drowned out the quiet whispers
of God. However, there are other free-loading tenants that have encroached on
this space. I get online to type my daily verse to a friend and then spend time
replying to other emails. I get on Facebook to post my daily thanksgiving and
end up scrolling through other updates. I put away my computer and get back to
prayer…my mind wanders. I think of someone and decide to send them a text to
check on them. I will get a thought that I want to type for my blog—I get back
on the computer to do so—and the distraction cycle continues.
The solution seems
obvious. Just don’t allow these squatters to occupy the space that has been
carved out for prayer. I have to evict
these distractions.
When my husband and
I are on a date, I’m disappointed if he seems distracted. Every morning, I have
a date with God, but I’m constantly paying attention to all sorts of other
things. This is disrespectful, inconsiderate, and unloving.
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