The importance of prayer cannot be overstated in our relationship with God, not so much in our asking for "stuff" and help, but in appreciating God who He is and ever will be.
One thing that amazes about my trips to Nicaragua is the faith and power of prayer expressed by the people we're with - there is a deep communion with our Lord and a prayerful literacy that is not often experienced here in the U.S. That said, it becomes clear that there is a wealth of faith outside the States where our own abundance has created a reliance on self, ability, and the blessings of God rather than true and deep reliance on Him.
Many (including myself) say that we're too busy to slow down and be still (as the Psalmist wrote), often allowing time with God to be snatched away by the tasks and appointments of the day. As a band-aid, we've decided to attempt to foster a relationship with God in the form of "prayer hits" or "fortune cookie devotions," snippets throughout the day in order to squeeze Him into our schedule (again, I'm writing to myself more than others here).
Looking at my watch and realizing I was running late the other day, I distinctly said, "Lord, I have ten minutes." Realizing what I had just said, I had to consciously stop myself, decide to show up late, get on my knees, ask for forgiveness for what I said, and adore God for who He truly is.
Martin Luther wrote that he was so busy, he couldn't afford to pray less than 3 to 4 hours a day (!). Below I've copied a dedication and an opening prayer by Luther that I'm focusing on this week that can benefit us all. Care to join me?
Let this be for you an encouragement, that with all diligence and earnestness it may become your habit to pray. For next to the preaching of the Gospel, in which God speaks with us and gives us all His grace and blessings, the highest and foremost work we can do is to speak with him through prayer and receive from Him what He gives us...By our prayer we seek and find what we are to receive. Therefore prayer becomes our comfort, strength, and consolation, as well as our protection against all enemies and our victory over them.
Dear Lord! You know that I cannot come before You on account of my own self, my presumption or my worthiness. Just as I might desire to look upon You, yet in the same way I would not be permitted to do so and would not even know how I might begin to pray. Nevertheless I do come before You because You Yourself have commanded it and You earnestly encourage that we should call upon You. You have even pledged a promise. You sent Your own Son, He who teaches us what we should pray, and You have promised to give us the words that we use in prayer. Therefore i know that such prayer indeed pleases You, and that my claim, that I may commend myself as a child of God before You, as great as that may seem, comes from the fact that I must obey You as You would have it. May I never inflict lies upon You and through other and greater sins trespass against You, thereby despising Your command and rejecting the gift of faith in Your promise.
