All of us face challenges that discourage us from praying. Perhaps you’ve faced these specific challenges:
- Thinking that prayer is one more item on your already full to-do list.
- Thinking that when you pray your job is to convince God to do something.
- Thinking you have to pray like another person whom you admire prays.
Do any of those sound familiar? If the answer is “yes,” let me encourage you with a few words:
- Most of us are busy – too busy not to pray. Daily conversations with God have a way of making life run smoother, just like daily conversations with our loved ones help us avoid bigger problems down the road.
- God loves us! That’s why the New Testament calls His throne a “throne of grace” when approached by believers in prayer. God is a loving Father who already knows what we need and is eager to help us.
- It’s good to learn from people we admire, but it’s not good to think we have to do everything just like they do. Be you! Prayer needs to come from your heart and in your own words. God created you and He knows you. He understands you, your heart and your words. Learn from others, but be yourself when you pray.
This week, remember to:
FAST one day – you choose the day, type of fast, and purpose of the fast.
PRAY each day for two different church members and for two different items listed in Sunday’s bulletin.
COMMENT below about your experience with God fasting and praying this week. Encourage others by joining the conversation.
Pastor Steve Hogg
Eric Johnson says
My fast continues to be giving up exactly that: driving in the fast lane. I don’t have road rage but struggle with (and often pray for) patience. I’ve been using the Bible app on my phone to complete a full “reading” of the Bible in one year. Every day I listen to a few chapters on my commute to work. This quiet time helps me spend time with the Lord and focus on His word. But if I distract myself with impatience at traffic and frustration with other drivers, I am distracting myself from the time I am giving Him. So actually every day since you called us to fast, I have given up being in a hurry to work. I have given up using the left lane and in what probably amounts to really just a few extra minutes of commute from Rock Hill to Charlotte, I pray for the people that pass me, strangers that have needs, that may or may not know the Lord and in turn pray that this helps me with my patience while letting the Lord guide me. And sure enough He patiently speaks to me through his Word. The last verse of the last Chapter of yesterday’s reading was Psalm 48:14 “For this God is our God, for ever and ever. He will be our guide even to the end.” Sometimes we just have to slow down and let God be our GPS.
Steve Hogg says
Eric,
WOW! Thanks for sharing. First time I’ve heard of this particular fast, but I can relate. I’m glad it is going well and pray the Lord continues speaking to your heart.