Being Present With God Throughout the Day

This message is for tired moms everywhere – early morning prayers are not more godly than those prayed when the sun has been up for hours. I’ve searched the scriptures from cover to cover and I promise you, it ain’t there. One of the most freeing things God has taught me in the past year is that my prayer life doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s. 

I can’t tell you the number of  “How to Initiate a successful prayer life” posts I’ve read, “30 days to a consistent prayer life” guides I’ve downloaded, and books on prayer I’ve begun. I should be an expert by now. But I only became an expert at NOT having the consistency everyone else seemed to have:  the time, the place, the chair and the posture, day in and day out.

I was recently feeling frustrated with myself for this when 1 Thessalonians 5:17 jumped off the page. The formula for the perfect prayer life was there, hidden in plain sight.  “Pray Continually”.  I’d never understood how to live in a continual posture of prayer.  Until I thought about how I communicate with the other folks I love.

I connect with others throughout the day, sometimes through a quick text, and other times over an unrushed cup of coffee. Sometimes I write my thoughts in a personal letter, while other moments I enjoy the fellowship of a group.  In trying to follow someone else’s program or plan, I was missing the importance of connecting consistently through a variety of methods, lengths, intensity, and settings. During times that are appropriated from the natural rhythms of my day.

In Scripture, I see people communing with God throughout the day, in various circumstances, through numerous types of conversations. 

🙏He walked with Enoch. (Genesis 5:24)

🙏He talked with Moses face to face. (Exodus 33:11)

🙏He spoke to Joseph in dreams. (Genesis 37:5)

🙏He wrestled with Jacob. (Genesis 32:24)

🙏He proved himself through tests to Gideon. (Judges 6:40)

🙏He caused a donkey to talk to Balaam. (Numbers 22:28)

🙏He comforted three guys by walking around a fiery furnace with them. (Daniel 3:25)

🙏He spoke to Mary and Joseph through an angel. (Matthew 1, Luke 1)

🙏He used a star to guide the wise men to Jesus. (Matthew 2:2)

🙏He communicated to his followers through parables. (Luke 15)

🙏He reminded Peter through a rooster. (John 18:27)

And Jesus spoke to the Father in various times and ways. 

🙏Early in the morning (Mark 1:35)

🙏In the evening (Matthew 14:23)

🙏On a mountain (Mark 6:46)

🙏In the wilderness (Luke 5:16)

🙏Alone (Luke 6:12)

🙏With others (John 17)

🙏Over children (Matthew 19:13)

🙏Over a meal (Matthew 14:19)

🙏During his baptism in a river (Luke 3:21)

🙏During his grief in a garden (Mark 13:45) 

He lived in continual communication with his Father. And God gave us the Holy Spirit so we can do the same! Please hear me say this, I realize that habits and routines are super helpful and I am working on several as I type this because my natural lack of self-discipline is appalling. But practicing the presence of God throughout the day has been such a grace gift to me lately.

Brother Lawrence, a French monk of the Carmelite order who lived in the 1600’s is best known for defining the phrase “practicing the presence of God”. He once wrote “God has infinite treasures to give us. Why should we be satisfied with a brief moment of worship?…We can make our hearts personal chapels where we can enter anytime to talk to God privately.”

By definition, a prayer life is just that – a life of prayer.  I enjoy times of early morning prayer and corporate prayer just as much as precious moments throughout my day – in the car, while walking, or during a crisis. Structured prayer and kneeling benches can add depth and insight as I seek to commune with God, but every moment is holy and every step is on hallowed ground when I live in a posture of intimacy with my Heavenly Father.