A comment this week from one of your fellow blog members was simple, but so true. What helps her in her quiet time is to start with a devotional book which leads to Bible passages which leads to prayer. Whatever it takes to get us on a regular prayer path, that is what we’re looking for.

Jumping right into prayer can also be “on the list.” Just be sure to settle yourself before you jump in.

Do you speak your prayers out loud? Or, if someone is in the next room, at least whisper using your lips? This may be a new thought for you, but I’ve discovered that if I just think the words, but don’t actually articulate them, I easily get distracted and before I know it, I’m making a grocery list in my head!

If we get the desire for prayer on our minds, we can find many occasions and locations to seize the moment: while doing dishes, dusting, or vacuming, rocking a baby to sleep, pedaling a stationary bike, walking around the block, or in the humdrum of going and coming to appointments in the car (Please be sure to watch the traffic!)

Personally, I find my deepest prayer moments come in that quiet place in my office, in my chair, in the morning before the day starts. Some people like to kneel in their quiet time. (After two knee replacements, that one is out for me.) Others sit, bent over with elbows on knees. Some stand or pace in the room.

What really matters is the condition of the mind and heart. If I’ve just read a devotion and/or a passage of Scripture, it may have opened thoughts of thanksgiving or inspiration and I’m ready to praise God for those things. If there are issues in my life, I may jump into my heartache or questions about these things. If I have medical concerns for a friend, I may address those.

But at some point, I need to quit talking, and ask the Lord to speak to me. Now this is the hard part, because our talking skills often outweigh our listening skills. We can ask a question or express a concern or just ask to hear His voice, but then we must wait, give Him time to give me time to receive what thoughts He wants to bring to mind.

This is holy time and requires whole-ly listening. If my mind gets distracted, I may need to speak again just to stay connected. I find the more I practice this, the more I can stay connected. I have been amazed how He will bring something to mind that I never thought about before—a need, an answer, an idea, a new thought, an inspiration, or simply a moment of closeness to Him. Those are the times which encourage me to long for this again and again. It does take time, practice, focus, and desire.

“Prayer does not fit us for the greater work; prayer is the greater work.“ Oswald Chambers

“Take off your shoes. This is holy ground.” That didn’t happen every day for Moses. The dramatic holy fire of God’s presence on the mountain didn’t happen every day either. There were days of listening to tribal complaints and disobedience. But Moses was ready when God wanted to speak to him. May we be in readiness as well.

(God says:) “Quietness is the classroom where you hear my voice. As you advance in this discipline, you gradually learn to carry the stillness with you wherever you go.” Sarah Young

Read that one again—slowly.

~ Joyce ~

PS Please encourage us by sharing your thoughts or experiences. (Scroll below to comment.)