Develop a Discipleship System
A Time to Pray—A Meditation for Advent
When is it a good time to pray? The resounding answer to the question is: all the time! When we pray, we hook up with God -- the most powerful force in the universe. It is interesting to note that the Apostle Paul doesn't talk about prayer as a part of life, but as all of life. For him, prayer is not something that we should practice regularly -- it is our ongoing concern; therefore, we are to pray unceasingly. Paul reminds us to do this in his words:
- Pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18, NRSV).
- We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NRSV).
- To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith (2 Thessalonians 1:11, NRSV).
As Christians, we strive to follow Paul's advice and focus on prayer as a discipline for spiritual growth. We focus on prayer as a living encounter with God. Our goal is to achieve a continuous state of recollection and awareness of the presence of God. We focus our thoughts and our total being on what we need to share with God. Simply stated, we must ACT (Adoration, Confession and Thanksgiving). We magnify God with our praise and worship, we confess our sins and failures, and we offer our thanks.
Hannah, a woman of God serves as an example for us today for she was a praying woman. In 1 Samuel 1, we find Hannah in the tabernacle "in bitterness of soul" praying to the Lord for a son. Her prayer was so passionate that Eli assumed from her actions that she was drunk, and he rebuked her. When Hannah explained that she was praying, Eli blessed her, and so did God. She bore a son and named him Samuel. Hannah's prayer reminds us that when our motivation is right, God is more likely to say yes to our petitions.
The fervent effectual prayers of the righteous avail much. Prayer is much like chicken soup for the soul -- O taste and sees that it is good.
To embrace prayer
Is to be led
Again
Again
Again
To the holiest of holies.
About the Author: Gloria H. Reese is a member of Kairos Community AME Church in Nashville, Tennessee. Gloria has served in the AME church as Sunday school teacher, steward, member of the Missionary Society, and Lecture Series Coordinator. A graduate of Tennessee State University, Gloria Reese (Ed.D.) is an educator with over 25 years teaching experience. She and her husband, Charles, have four adult children.
A Time to Pray, Copyright © 2008 Gloria Reese, EdD. All Rights Reserved. Posted with permission on the Discipleship Ministries Worship website.org.
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