28th October - 3rd November 2024
I wonder what you would think if I asked the following question, ‘What is the difference between a ‘prayer life’ and a ‘praying life’?’
It’s a thought provoking question and one I have pondered on as I seek to understand, grapple with and practice prayer in my daily life. Sometimes I find it easy to pray but there are also times when I find prayer a real challenge. There are times when I’ve felt indifferent and other times when I’ve felt fervent. Have you ever struggled to pray?
I have always believed that we have enough time in the 24 hours a day we are given by God to do all that we need to do for him and that includes taking time to pray. If we want to move from having a ‘prayer life’, that can be hit or miss depending on our circumstances, towards having a ‘praying life’, where we incorporate prayer into every aspect of the life we are already living, then a change in perspective will be required.
The late Dallas Willard put it like this, ‘Prayer is talking with God about what we are thinking and doing together; it is co-labouring with God to accomplish the good purposes of his kingdom’.
It is about how God welcomes us into what he is doing and how we welcome God into what we are doing, it’s about acknowledging God in everything we do. I like this!
I wonder if we asked the question, ‘What work does God want me to be involved in with him today?’, would it change our perspective to know that we are a co-labourer with him? Would such a reality change the focus and object of our prayers?
Or maybe as we have been looking at Ephesians we have been challenged afresh by Paul’s prayers and his focus on praying for his fellow believers to know God better, to have a greater understanding of his love, mercy and grace and as a consequence to live our lives for him.
Maybe you are wondering, what are the good works that God has prepared in advance for me to do? How can I know what it is that he wants me to do?
The greatest command is to love God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and the second is to love our neighbour as ourselves. (Matthew 22:37-38)
There are many other commands and imperatives that God gives us in his word which flesh out these two great commandments. So how are we doing in our relationship with the Lord and in our love for others? Are we getting to know God better and are we loving others more?
Over the next week, as we come to pray each day, may we seek to know more clearly what it is God is calling us to do for him, what it means to be a co-worker with him, what it means to love him with all our being and also what it means to love others in the way that he loves us.
Written by David Mairs
MONDAY
What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labour. For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
1 Corinthians 3:5-4
Heavenly Father, help me to have a humble heart and recognise that you have a plan and purpose for my life. Show me the tasks that you want me to fulfill as a co-worker in your service. Thank you for reminding me that it is only God who makes things grow and that my focus needs to be on the role you want me to play as you continue to build your church. Amen.
TUESDAY
We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.
1 Thessalonians 3:2
Heavenly Father, thank you for those co-workers in the gospel who have been sent by you to strengthen and encourage me in my faith. When I am struggling and someone gives me a word of encouragement help me to be thankful to you for prompting them to reach out and contact me, to speak into my life and situation, to be present with me. (Think of specific people and give thanks for them by name.) Help me to understand that this is you at work in them and that they are responding to your leading and guiding. Help me to also be sensitive to your leading in my life, that I may respond to and help others in the same way that I have been encouraged and helped. Amen.
WEDNESDAY
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy when some believers came and testified about your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
3 John 2-4
Heavenly Father, thank you for… (name some Christian friends that are impactful in your life.) Thank you that they continue to walk in the truth and speak your truth into my life. May you encourage them, strengthen them and protect them. May they have good health and may all go well with them. Help me to be joyful when I hear stories of people who continue to stand firm in their faith. Help me to pray for my brothers and sisters in Christ, that they remain steadfast and unwavering in their faith and commitment to walk in the truth of your word. Help me to also model what this looks like in my own life, that others would see Christ in me and would be prompted to ask why I follow Jesus. Amen.
THURSDAY
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Ephesians 6:18
Heavenly Father, teach me how to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Help me to understand that different circumstances require different kinds of prayers and requests. Give me a discerning heart to listen and hear and to respond with sensitivity, patience and love. Father, in this moment who do you want me to pray for? (Take time to consider those you know who love the Lord and need your prayers and pray for them.) I ask all these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
FRIDAY
Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved.
Romans 10:1
Heavenly Father, my heart’s desire and prayer is that … (name those people who are on your heart that need to be saved) … may be saved. I ask that your Holy Spirit convicts them of their sin and removes the blindness from their eyes and heart. Father, would you continue to be long suffering and patient with them. Father, I ask that they will cry out to you for salvation. Help me to be a faithful witness before them and a persistent person of prayer in these days. Amen.
SATURDAY
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:44-45
Heavenly Father, I find this the hardest of all prayers. Praying for my enemies and those who persecute me. Help me to live in the truth that you have forgiven me and so I am called to forgive others. Help me to understand that I am flawed and sinful just like my enemies and those who would persecute me. Help me to believe that the transforming work of the Holy Spirit can be theirs as it is mine. Father in heaven, soften my heart and help me to love as I am loved. Amen.
SUNDAY
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
1 Timothy 2:1-2
Heavenly Father, We come before You in humility and gratitude as we lift up prayers, petitions, and intercessions for all people. We pray especially for those in positions of authority, our leaders, rulers and all who govern, both in our local council and assembly. Guide them with wisdom, justice and compassion, so that they may lead with integrity and serve the common good.
Grant us peaceful and quiet lives, filled with godliness and holiness, that our communities may flourish in harmony and truth. Help us to be instruments of your peace and to seek ways in which we can build gospel bridges in our communities. Thank you for what we have already seen and experienced in terms of our connections with our local council and the support they provide. May we be always thankful for your blessings and mindful of your mercy and grace towards us which we in turn want to show to those around us. Amen.