Hello Friend,
Good morning. I know that it is a busy Monday morning and your to-do list in front of you looms large. Mine does also. We, as a culture, are super busy. Not much down time, and what little there is, is often consumed with our fixation on our electronics. When was the last time you just sat still in the Presence of God?
I have been preaching during Lent on the topic, The School of Prayer, just teaching the basics. Prayer isn’t about rules. It is about a relationship with God. And relationships take time to develop. The very first step of prayer is receiving God into your presence. Too many people never learn to pray because they never change from an aggressive into a receptive mood.
The Bible urges us to pray without ceasing. I believe that means that whenever a need comes to mind during your day, in that moment, you have the opportunity to place that situation in God’s open hands. And then you continue with your routine—your schedule. But the beginning of a prayer relationship requires us to consciously open our mind to God and to be receptive to His voice. That is how we cultivate spiritual serenity in spite of the shaking mountains and agitated waters. This spiritual calm does not come from a lack of troubles, but from trust in your relationship with God. You believe God hears your prayers and answers every one because you have felt His presence. You have a closeness with the Holy One that is only born of stillness and receptivity. I urge you to find time in your hectic life for God. Life seems easier when you do it with God. You learn to relax and trust. You actually begin to enjoy your life. How’s that for some good reasons to become still? Linda