I was so excited the day I heard medical researchers explain that taking a brief nap in the afternoon can be a very good thing. It helps to refresh us, to renew us and re-invigorate us. There are many times when I need to stop and close my eyes for even 15 minutes, just to clear my thoughts so I can approach my sermon or a 10/2 Grow with a sharper mind.
Removing yourself from the hassles and hurry of life is not always a bad thing. It is not always an indication of laziness. There are times when we must deliberately find the time and space and emotional solitude where we can pray.
What is Peter’s warning? What does he encourage?
This is what we are called to do. Our time is brief. Our faith should be urgent. We should take the time to clear away the clutter of our emotions and fears, and with that new focus come to God in earnest conversation – prayer – about ourselves, our world, and all the others who need our spiritual encouragement. Prayer should not always be rushed and superficial, but needs to be a deep connection. And that connection often requires preparation on our part.
We may need to take a spiritual nap of sorts from time to time. But, instead of having our souls go to sleep, we just need them to rest a moment. We may need to have a time when our souls and our faith are taken away from the stress and worry and work of being faithful believers in a fallen world.
When we pray we can allow our souls to renew themselves, pulling away from the troubles of life and spending a moment in silent meditation and reflection. Then, with our spiritual strength renewed, we can go to God in prayer, taking time to make that holy connection with the Almighty.
We can enter into that intimate conversation with God being clear-minded, having the turmoil of life set aside even if only briefly, so that we might speak clearly with God. Setting aside deliberate time for prayer and approaching it with clear intentions, guarding ourselves from the distractions of life, is a way of being clear minded and self-controlled.
DAILY CHALLENGE: How will you step back to improve your prayers, approaching them with a clear mind and with more self-control?
No comments:
Post a Comment