FOCUSED ON THE FATHER

Prayer is one of the most sought after, yet least practiced spiritual disciplines in the Christian life.  This seems to be such an "oxymoronic" thought, but to quote a blog from the Navigators, "It’s been estimated that a typical Christian layman spends about three-and-a-half minutes each day in prayer. Full-time Christian workers average about seven minutes per day. Why do we fail to take full advantage of the privilege of prayer? Is it a lack of discipline? Are we too busy? Are we unmotivated?"

I fall into this same category.  It seems that as hard as I try to pray without being distracted or sincerely focused on such a loving and gracious God who wants to commune with me, I still fall into that same "short minutes-a-day" prayer.  I have read about the prayer warriors of the past ... I have tried to emulate them ... still I come away unsatisfied.  Do you remember the hymn, "Satisfied with Jesus?"  The words of this hymn speak of being satisfied with Jesus but end with the question, "Is He satisfied with me?"

I would have to say that I am satisfied with Jesus ... I know what He has done for me.  I know that God reached into my heart, drew me to Himself and I accepted His grace gift of salvation.  Yes, He is worthy of my praise and worship, but still I come up short in putting Him first in everything.  And, to commune with Him so that the hours seem to fade away into sublime joy remains unrealized.  I fear that He is not satisfied with my paltry attempt at communing prayer.

Still, I will continue to seek that greatest of all disciplines of communing with the Creator God of all that exists...the God who has invited me, and you, into a wonderful relationship ... children of God. (John 1:12)

One of the goals of the Navigators ministries is to help us all to set up shop in the prayer closet in order to become joyfully connected to the Father.  Whether it is begun by "30 Days of Praying the Names and Attributes of God" or "Being Focused on the Father," or some other avenue, the goal is to honor and glorify our God who is worthy of our praise and to expand our basic training preparing for eternity.

Open the links below with me and enjoy of renewed effort to become more like Jesus in our worship and thanksgiving of Him...in my longing to become a true prayer warrior.

30 Days of Praying the Names and Attributes of God
Focused on The Father
Prayer: First you listen