Part Three :: Pray Fervently

Our times with God are bold. They are times when we communicate with the Creator of the entire universe. And every time we speak to God we admit, to both God and ourselves, that we need Him. To reduce this time of conversation to a rigid formula robs the moment of its supreme power. When we pray, we literally talk to God. We speak words to Him. And when we speak to Him, we should listen for Him, and listen to Him.

Prayer is not designed to be the benediction of an event, or a church service. It is not designed to be a formal, preplanned speech. It is designed for us to pour our emotions and feelings and our very lives into the never-ending well of peace provided by God. And when we are encouraged to “pray without ceasing,” we are encouraged to enter into a constant conversation with God – a conversation that lasts through our every waking moment of every day.

May you be encouraged, through the next eight days, to change the way you pray, and to enter into a constant conversation with God.

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Word:

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Meditation Thought:  Our days are spent in selfish pursuits, which will ultimately lead to disappointments. Three things should instead fill our day: constant joy, constant prayer, and constant gratitude.

Prayer: God, as I begin these eight days of prayer, change how I pray. Literally change the way I talk to You. Change my heart. Change my desires in prayer. Change my requests to You. I ask so much of You that I base my joy on seeing You answer my prayers the way I want them answered. But God, there is so much more to prayer than just asking! Help me to see this! Help me pray with a fervent heart, and help me be joyful regardless of what I face today! I want to spend my every moment with You. Interrupt my day today, and lay a burden on my heart that can’t be satisfied until I speak with You. And God, keep that burden on my heart all day today, so I will not stop praying. Thank You, God!