November 14

“If you sense that the spiritual vigor has gone out of your life or the life of your church, this is God’s invitation to pray.  He wants you to intercede with Him so that He might revive His work.”  H. Blackaby, Experiencing God Day-by-Day, 10/26

I am feeling exactly this way--to the point of feeling I have nothing to write about.  So I’m sitting here with my fingers on the keys waiting for something to come forth.....When I feel this way, it seems the hardest thing to do is to pray.  But this is a good reminder to me it’s not so much how much I have to say to God, but what I say.  If it’s just one word--“Help!”--that is all that is needed if it is genuine.  I think my impatience is part of my problem.  If I can utter “Help” and then am patient enough until God answers that prayer, I feel certain I’d know what to pray next.  The other part is distractions.  After praying for help I’m often distracted by the emotional pain that brought me to prayer in the first place.  I probably miss many of God’s answers because of this.  I’m reminded of the parables that Jesus shares about persistence.  A persistent person does not lose his focus.  Believing prayer is also a key element.  Persistence will be a part of this kind of prayer.  This all brings up another point I’ve failed to remember.  Prayer is the fuel of my relationship with God.  Just like in human relationships, it’s the communication that keeps it alive.  Losing vigor is part of God’s design to keep us in prayer; otherwise, we will grow complacent and forget just how important communication--prayer--is.

“I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.”  Luke 11:8