Set Aside a Place and Time for Prayer Each Day

Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. (Psalms 108:2—NIV)

I am placing daily prayer first because of its importance.

We American Christians agree that we ought to have a "prayer closet." But we don’t always have one.

It will not be possible for any of us to stand in the day of trouble that is at hand unless we have a time each day when we pray. By a time of prayer each day I do not mean we think good thoughts. I mean we have a place where we go and wait on the Lord.

Our problem in America is that of time. We have so many responsibilities and cares that the idea of stopping and spending a half hour in concentrated prayer does not appeal to us. But if we do not do this we soon will be deceived and led away from the Lord and into sin.

We are so busy with all of the material cares of life that we do not have the time or strength to pray. Some of us hold down two or three jobs. When we get home at night (or early in the morning) we flop in front of the television, hoping to get some rest. But we are mistaken in this. Time spent in prayer will bring rest, peace, and the solution to our problems. Watching the television does not do this.

Because of the fortress of God’s Presence that surrounds each Christian we cannot possibly be harmed by Satan. Satan has to deceive us into moving away from God in some manner before he can harm us. Only the believer who spends time with God each day will be alerted to the deceptions of the enemy.

There is no substitute for daily prayer.

For most of us, the best time to pray is in the morning. Sometimes, however, this is impossible and we have to choose some other time of day. We must set aside at least a half hour a day to really pray and talk with the Lord.

Until we have experience in prayer we may find prayer a boring experience. There are so many needful and interesting things to do in America that talking to an invisible Person is not all that pleasant. This is because we do not have enough experience in prayer.

First we must set aside a place and time and place to pray. The Lord may meet us immediately. On the other hand, we may find that things are dry and five minutes seems like a half hour.

If we persist, there will come a time when the Lord meets us. Then we will begin to learn how to pray in the Spirit. I am not referring to praying in tongues, although being able to pray in tongues makes it easier, I think, to become accustomed to praying in the Spirit.

To pray in the Spirit of God means to become involved with the burdens that are coming from the Lord. We enter these and pray along with that which God is praying.

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians 6:18—NIV)

We are to pray "in the Spirit," being alert to what God is saying. When our prayer time becomes an interaction between God and us it becomes far more pleasant. Instead of dreading spending a half hour in prayer we begin to look forward to it. And we begin to see specific answers, which helps.

We used to use the expression in Pentecost, "praying through." All experienced prayer warriors know what it means to pray through. You come to the Lord with a heavy concern or fear of some kind—something that is oppressing your spirit. You pray until the oppression lifts, until you know God has heard you. When you realize God has heard you, you can be sure your prayer will be answered in the best possible way.

And if we know he hears us—whatever we ask—we know we have what we asked of him. (I John 5:15—NIV)

Whenever you are bearing a heavy cross of some kind, your fervent desires are being denied, you are forced to remain in an unpleasant situation for years perhaps, you can survive by continually praying that God will release you into more pleasing circumstances.

When you are doing this, be sure to thank the Lord for your blessings. You can carry your cross successfully if you get your mind off what you do not have and think about what you do have—the good things God has given you. If you do not do this, but think only about what you cannot have, your cross will grind you to powder.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. (Philippians 4:6—NIV)

Give thanks always to the Lord, and always let your requests be made known to Him. Remain faithfully in your prison. Put your hopes beyond the grave, your treasures in Heaven. And pray! pray! pray! Do not faint, but keep on praying.

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1—NIV)

We must set aside a place and time to pray each day, as I said. But in addition to this we must keep on praying during the day and night as we have opportunity.

Pray continually; (I Thessalonians 5:17—NIV)

To the beginning Christian, the idea of praying continually may seem an impossibility. As we mature in the Lord we find there are so many problems that praying continually is the only way in which we can endure the day.

God sends problems upon us to keep our eyes focused on Him.

When we face a problem we can accuse other people and become bitter, or we can use the problem to drive us to God. Thus every problem and crisis becomes a golden opportunity to press closer to Jesus.

I understand viewing problems in this manner seems idealistic and unworkable. I admit it does take character, effort, and courage to look always to Jesus—especially when something of a threatening nature takes place.

But every time we respond to a crisis or problem by going to Jesus we become stronger in this procedure. Life becomes much more peaceful and less threatening because we find the Lord keeps on delivering us. He becomes increasingly real to us until we can tell when victory has been gained.

If we do not learn to take every crisis, danger, and problem to Jesus immediately, looking to Him for strength and wisdom, we will not be able to stand in the dark days facing us in America.

The written Word of God is of tremendous importance. However the Apostles placed prayer as the highest priority.

But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. (Acts 6:4)

The first of the ten practices necessary for spiritual survival in the coming days is that of prayer. Numerous Christians do not pray enough even to cope with the present distresses. If we cannot live the victorious Christian life in the present hour, what shall we do when greater trouble comes?

"If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?" (Jeremiah 12:5—NIV)

God will reward you richly if you make a practice of daily prayer. Try it and see!

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