Most every morning, I try to set aside time to begin my day in prayer. I have certain meditation books that I use, my Bible, my journal, and my backyard. Days where I neglect my alone time with God, well, let’s just say, they are not very peaceful, happy, or productive. So I am quite diligent about keeping my appointment with the Lord daily!
Recently, a dear friend gave me another lil booklet to add to my time of prayer. My friend said that it helped put the need for prayer into perspective. I would like to share with you an excerpt.
“For fourteen years, the Mars rover, Opportunity, faithfully communicated with the people at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. After it landed in 2004, it traversed 28 miles of Martian surface, took thousands of images, and analyzed many materials. But in 2018, communication between Opportunity and scientists ended when a major dust storm coated its solar panels, causing the rover to lose power.”
“Is it possible that we can allow “dust” to block our communication with ‘God’? When it comes to prayer…there are certain things that can get in the way.”We get up too late, we have an overcrowded calendar full of activity, our children or spouse makes demands on our time, we get hooked on social media, the house needs cleaned, we have an appointment, we are too stressed, the yard needs to be mowed or tended, we have an early golf game or gym time, we get sucked into a movie or TV show, our phone is ringing, we have to fix a meal, we have to hurry to pick up the kids, we just aren’t in the mood to pray, we’re depressed, lonely, sad, feeling crummy, it’s dreary out so why pray…you get the idea! Dust can block our “solar prayer panels” so easily. According to the Bible, sin can block our desire to talk to God. We figure that He doesn’t care right now, we doubt that He has time for us, we judge that we are not worthy of time with Him, we’ll pray later, He knows all about me, how can He love me!?
“Opportunity’s blockage of communication seems to be permanent. But our prayers don’t have to be blocked. By the work of the Holy Spirit, God lovingly draws us to restored communication with Him. As we confess our sins {and excuses} and turn to Him, by God’s grace we experience the greatest communication that the universe has ever known: one-to-one pray-er between us and our holy God.” [David Branson]
Can we improve our life by dusting off our “prayer panel” and spending time with our Father. He wants to spend time with us!! He wants us to talk to Him…to share our pain, disappointment, sorrow, joy, accomplishment, happiness, need, love. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you set aside time, even if only for 3 self-directed minutes at first. It will grow as you commit to regular time with Him every day. You don’t even need meditation books now—just thank Him and talk to Him like I am talking to you. Tell him you don’t know how to pray or what to say. Tell Him about what is blocking you from spending more time with Him. See what He says…Skeptical?? Try it for a week or two…you may be surprised in the results!
Have a Dust Free and Blessed Week!