Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. 1 Peter 4:7
Does it seem easier not pray than it is to pray? It’s crazy, but we seem to believe that is a fact of life. Can you talk to strangers, but not to God? Do you intend to pray, and even though you have a need to pray there seems to be a wall, a “yeah but,” or the “I don’t want to bother God” excuse? Do you suppose Peter is warning against all the excuses? Are too many things in life keeping you from being “clear minded?” Living in prayerlessness will clutter your mind.
Richard Foster writes, “We today yearn for prayer and hide from prayer. We are attracted to it and repelled by it. We believe prayer is something we should do, even something we want to do, but it seems like a chasm stands between us and actually praying. We experience the agony of prayerlessness.”
The agony of prayerlessness is birthed in silence. We become empty without someone to talk to, that is agony. God wanted us to have joy, a clear mind, so He created us with the ability to talk, to Him and others. As Peter warns, a clear mind and self-control is crucial. Silence, prayerlessness brings agony, worry, anger, lose of self-control. Prayer brings us closer to Jesus, just as talking to someone allows us to be closer to one another. God enables us in spirit and by conversation to edify and encourage. Prayer enables you to be clear minded, and emptiness—that void in your heart—is filled by Christ in prayer. Paul advises to “pray continually” (1 Thess 5:17), because it is God’s will for you … He wants to talk to you—because He loves you. Paul says in 5:16 to “be joyful always;” to talk, converse with God (prayer) brings joy, clearing your mind; allowing you to be self-controlled. In prayer, agony and its illnesses are healed.
Speak up, pray,
No comments:
Post a Comment