A Praying Life
Hi Friend. It’s good to share words with you! I haven’t written a blog post in almost a year. Life has been full in both wonderful and hard ways. My daughter recently turned two. As joyful as it is being her mother, it’s also busy and leaves very little time in this season for extracurriculars like writing blog posts. I have so many things I wish I could tell you about right now — lessons God has taught me about life and Him. Hopefully we can catch up soon. But in the meantime, I’d like to share some thoughts from my time with Him this morning.
I’ve found that as a culture, we tend to compartmentalize our life. We have our social life, home life, family life, church life, work life, etc. Sometimes these “lives” overlap, but we typically like to keep them nice and tidy in their little box.
But when it comes to one’s “church life” or relationship with Jesus, keeping Him in a compartment is quite challenging.
You see, a Christian is not created to fit God into a box and take Him out on Sundays or during morning/evening devotion, then go about life as normal.
Jesus taught His disciples to abide; to form a oneness with He and the Father. This abiding is constant, unending all throughout the day.
I recognized that sometimes unknowingly I kept Jesus in a compartment. I wake up extra early before my husband and daughter to spend time with Him. It is the most precious and sacred time of my day. I often feel encouraged and strengthened to take on the world! …which begins to fade away once my daughter has a tantrum or husband decides to practice his trumpet loud enough for Betty Jo down the street to hear him.
What happened?
I realized that I left Jesus at my coffee with my Bible and notebook. I didn’t bring Him with me into the kitchen as I navigate my daughter’s breakfast meltdown or into the music room as I got snappy with my husband.
To be clear, God is always with us (Matt.28:20). I don’t mean He left me in these moments, but rather I didn’t acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6). I didn’t remember the presence of God. My heart wasn’t meditating on Immanuel (God with us).
In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul says: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.“
Pray without ceasing isn’t so much talking to God 24/7. That would be exhausting. But rather I think Paul encouraged believers to practice dwelling in the presence of God; to be keenly aware He is with me and I am with Him.
We never read about Jesus telling His disciples to build a stronger prayer life, but rather we see Him foster a praying life. His entire life was connected with the Father. His entire life was in prayer. His entire life was in the Father’s presence.
A prayer life describes something we fit into our busy schedules, but a praying life a continual conversation and awareness of the presence of God that never stops. A praying life is one that keeps the mind on the things above and recognizes the heavenly link to the things here on earth. A praying life consistently draws the mind back to adoration, hope, awe, and peace in God when distractions arise. A praying life is recognizing that every single moment, task, or job is not done alone, but co-labored with Christ Himself.
Practicing a praying life is one of great challenge, but great reward. It’s not something I have perfected (not even close), but something I deeply desire. Jesus tells us in John 10:10 that He came to give us abundant life, and in John 15 He tells us how — “abide in me.”
So will you join me today in remembering that God is with us. At all-times. Everywhere we go. As we fix our gaze upon Him, our life becomes one beautiful conversation with God about what we’re doing together to accomplish the good purposes of His kingdom.
With love,
Ashlyn
