We’ve passed mid-June already. Summer hasn’t officially begun according to the calendar, but why does it feel like summer is already half over? Busy, busy, busy! Perhaps we’re too busy to go to God in prayer?
Martin Luther, the author of powerful, concise Morning and Evening prayers, wrote in A Simple Way to Pray,” “It is a good thing to let prayer be your first business in the morning and the last at night.” Some claim that Luther, a tireless worker and prolific author, said, “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” He was too busy NOT to pray, believing that without prayer he would not have been able to accomplish all that he did.
Is there a certain amount of time that is appropriate for prayer? Five minutes? Must we pray for an hour or two or three? Do we have even have time for that? Are quick five second prayers acceptable? Debates about prayer time – minimum or maximum – dissolve when we come across passages like these:
Are you able to read, “Pray continually,” without even a hint of guilt and shame? My knees aren’t calloused from endless hours in prayerful supplication. I’m too busy… Does this mean I can’t measure up to the giants of the faith?
A group of nuns in La Crosse, WI, have been praying non-stop since 1878, nearly 150 years of continual prayer. But even the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are not able to literally and individually “pray continually.” Two women pray at a time, in shifts of 30 or 60 minutes depending on the time of day.
Continual prayer is more attitude than activity. As we make our way through the hours and events of each day, we are mindful of our Savior’s constant presence and know we can immediately go to him in prayerful conversation. Whether asking for help or thanking him for blessings, children of God remain in constant communication with their Heavenly Father.
We have time to check email, Facebook, Twitter, and smartphones. We have time for this most important privilege of prayer. At no time is there no time to pray. At no time are we too busy to pray. Rather, we realize that we are too busy not to pray, and we cry out, “O Lord, give ear to my prayer.” (Psalm 17:1)
Grateful with you for grace,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
Martin Luther, the author of powerful, concise Morning and Evening prayers, wrote in A Simple Way to Pray,” “It is a good thing to let prayer be your first business in the morning and the last at night.” Some claim that Luther, a tireless worker and prolific author, said, “If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” He was too busy NOT to pray, believing that without prayer he would not have been able to accomplish all that he did.
Is there a certain amount of time that is appropriate for prayer? Five minutes? Must we pray for an hour or two or three? Do we have even have time for that? Are quick five second prayers acceptable? Debates about prayer time – minimum or maximum – dissolve when we come across passages like these:
- “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise” (Hebrews 13:15).
- “…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
- “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Philippians 4:6).
- “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” (Ephesians 6:18).
- “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Are you able to read, “Pray continually,” without even a hint of guilt and shame? My knees aren’t calloused from endless hours in prayerful supplication. I’m too busy… Does this mean I can’t measure up to the giants of the faith?
A group of nuns in La Crosse, WI, have been praying non-stop since 1878, nearly 150 years of continual prayer. But even the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration are not able to literally and individually “pray continually.” Two women pray at a time, in shifts of 30 or 60 minutes depending on the time of day.
Continual prayer is more attitude than activity. As we make our way through the hours and events of each day, we are mindful of our Savior’s constant presence and know we can immediately go to him in prayerful conversation. Whether asking for help or thanking him for blessings, children of God remain in constant communication with their Heavenly Father.
We have time to check email, Facebook, Twitter, and smartphones. We have time for this most important privilege of prayer. At no time is there no time to pray. At no time are we too busy to pray. Rather, we realize that we are too busy not to pray, and we cry out, “O Lord, give ear to my prayer.” (Psalm 17:1)
Grateful with you for grace,
Pastor Stephen Luchterhand
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