This is the National Day of Prayer
I’ve come to the place where I have had to stop telling people, “I’ll pray for you.”
I simply know that despite my good intentions — and these promises are almost always spoken with good intent — I know that nine times out of ten I just don’t remember to follow through. Not until maybe a week or two later, and then I feel guilty that I forgot. I don’t like promising something I probably won’t live up to.
You know how these stories go: Someone you care about tells you of their pain, need, or struggle, and you respond with, “Oh, I’m so sorry to hear that; I’ll pray for you.” But then, most of the time, we never do.
If all the prayers that were promised were actually prayed, this would be a different world by now.
So instead of promising future prayer, what I try to do nowadays is stop, right there in the moment, and pray. Right then and there. It’s funny how many Christians this actually throws off guard. “You mean, right now?” “Yes — absolutely. Let’s pray.”
In the restaurant, in the car, on the plane, wherever. If it’s a text or e-mail request, I’ll start praying as I type my response, typing out a prayer for them right then and there. Not only does it help me follow through, but it helps them to agree right along with what I have prayed, and agreement is mighty powerful, as we know.
I’m thinking of St. Patrick, how he would pray through the course of the day as he worked: “Tending flocks was my daily work, and I would pray constantly through the daylight hours. The love of God and the fear of Him surrounded me more and more — and faith grew and the spirit was roused, so that in one day I would say as many as a hundred prayers and after dark nearly as many again.”1
He simply did it right there, in the moment. For the truth is, there is no “later.”
"Now is the time to pray, for now is all we really have."
“Jesus, come into this — we invite You into this” is a great place to start. Whatever the need — guidance, direction, encouragement, healing, protection; the cancelled flight, the report from the doctor, the tension in relationship — this is the place to start. Invite Jesus right into the heart of it all, right there, in the moment. “Jesus, come into this — we invite You into this.”
We do this often in our meetings at Ransomed Heart. Someone will say, “I think we ought to pray about such-and-such,” and I’ll reply, “Go for it. Lead us. Right now,” and we’ll stop what we are doing and pray. Because if we don’t, we rarely get back around to it. I don’t know how many Christian meetings I’ve been in — board meetings, elder meetings — when all the time is used talking about what needs prayer, and we find we have barely a few minutes left at the end for one quick, little, rushed prayer.
It’s a brilliant ploy of the enemy — keep God’s people talking about it, debating, conjecturing, worrying over it, speculating, so they never really get around to praying.
By all means, pray when you have time and space to devote yourself to it, time to truly seek God. But pray now too — because you don’t know that you will get to it later.
1. Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilization: The Untold Story of Ireland’s Heroic Role from the Fall of Rome to the Rise of Medieval Europe (New York: Anchor, Doubleday, 1996), 102.
Excerpted from Moving Mountains by John Eldredge, copyright John Eldredge, 2016.
“Pray Now!” That would make a great note to stick on the fridge, or car dashboard, or desk. Today and going forward, when we hear that prayer is needed, let us not respond with, “I will pray”, but pray right then and there instead!
Pastor Dale
Sample prayers…
Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. — 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Father, You are wise and all-knowing. You allow all things to happen in Your perfect timing. Please give me peace in the midst of a busy season with my family. I feel pulled in so many directions by my kids’ needs, my husband’s requests, and my life.
Surround my family in this time. May Your peace bring us all peace, and may You create a calm environment in our home.
Thank You that You have gone before us in this hectic time and for bringing order to the chaos when we need it most. Thank You for giving me time to hug my kids and show them what a precious gift they are to me.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You. — Isaiah 26:3
Dear God, Your ways are perfect. Your will is good. You deserve all praise.
You have promised perfect peace to those who focus on You. Help me to keep my thoughts on You. When I rush ahead to the next plan or responsibility, bring me back to You and Your goodness.
Help my children to fix their eyes on you when they experience fear or anxiety. Show them who You are, and grow their trust in You.
I am grateful for the gift of peace we have in You. Thank You for the example of faith that I see in my children’s lives.
In Your precious name I pray, amen.
A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.
— Proverbs 16:9
Father, You are outside of time. You know what will happen before it happens. You are the creator and ruler of all. Steady my heart today as I make to-do lists. Direct my steps. Do not let me be overcome by anxiety and fear. Direct the steps of my family today as well. Show them that Your way truly is the best way, and give them a desire to do Your will.
Thank You for Your steadfast love.
Thank You for giving me time to play with my children and for the joy that it brings to us all. I’m so grateful for their laughter and hugs.
In Your name I pray, amen.
Excerpted from Pocket Prayers for Moms by Max Lucado, copyright Max Lucado.
Lord, bless our moms during this season. Give moms extra peace that surpasses human understanding. Help moms build time into the day to rest, relax, reflect, and laugh.