The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
Habitual Prayer
For the Christian, the Bible makes it clear that we are to walk by faith, recognizing that whatever happens to us is by God’s permission and for His glory. Psalm 84:11-12 says, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusts in You.”
- That trust extends to our human perception of both “good” and “bad” events in our lives. In God’s eyes it’s all the same. “All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Rom.8:28).
- That trust examines what God has done in the past to remind us of his power and intervention in our lives. “I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old” (Psalm 77:11).
- That trust expresses itself in how we deal with trials in our lives. To moan and groan about our harsh lot in life is to deny God’s sovereignty and His close proximity in our difficulties. “…He has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb. 13:5b).
To grow in our trust in God and our Christian life is to become more and more conscious of God’s presence in us. From this habitual awareness we are able to develop a rich and mature prayer life. The ideal is that God’s presence becomes so ingrained in our perception that we carry on a continuous private inward conversation with Him. Difficult? Yes. The devil throws everything he can think at us to distract us and to make us forget God’s presence. When we recognize this breach we, by faith, ask God to forgive us and continue practicing habitual prayer. It is habitual prayer. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing”. Like every other habit, it has to be intentionally formed. God wants your fellowship in prayer and He will give you the strength and endurance to do this if you ask.
One of the benefits of habitual prayer is that you begin to recognize God’s voice. Another is that you go to God more quickly when your life turns upside-down. Repeatedly Scripture tells us not to worry or try to bear our own burdens, but to give them to God with praise. Here are only a few of the verses that give us direction towards habitual prayer in which we let Him handle the problems, praising God instead of stewing over our misfortunes:
- Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain you. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
- Jeremiah 17:7-8 – “Blessed is the man that trusts in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, that spreads out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat comes. But her leaf shall be green and shall not be anxious in the year of drought neither shall cease from yielding fruit.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:15-18 – “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, works for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
- Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
- Hebrews 10:35-36 – “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which has great recompense of reward. For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”
- 1 Peter 5:6-7 – “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
When we draw daily from the ground water of God’s presence (and don’t forget to be studying His Word as well), our thirst for spiritual guidance is quenched.
Update/Prayer Request: Both of us benefited from breathing salty ocean air last week at Avila Beach. Dan finished his Prednizone over the weekend and he has had some minor side-effect issues again since we returned home on Monday. But, praise God, he did not have the usual back pain during his infusion yesterday and his blood work was very good. With eleven days left to retirement, Dan is in full short-time mode. We are both excited about this upcoming milestone. After 42 years with the Forest Service, it is time. Please pray for Dan’s stamina as he recovers from yesterday’s infusion over the next few days and for his transition into retirement.
