“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”—Philippians 4:6b
Prayer is something I do throughout the day. It is a way to stay in constant communication with God. I thank Him when I wake up in the morning. “Thank You, Lord that You have given me another day.” I have made it a habit to repeat Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made, let me rejoice and be glad in it. It is especially helpful for me to repeat that if things seem to be going south in my day. I have a choice to embrace each day and try to find the good in it. One way I do that is through my prayer and thanksgiving during my day.
When prayer becomes another thing on your “to do” list, you will find yourself rushing through it and then feeling guilty about it (Hello? That was me when I had a hard time balancing my time with young kids and too many activities). When you have those hurly-burly days, rather than beat yourself up, turn off your radio and use that quiet time in the car to communicate with God. Ask Him to direct your steps for the day and give Him thanks for all you have.
As I continue to mature in my faith, I have learned to say, “no” to some things and not be so regimented in having a specific time that I pray. When I hear of need, I no longer tell myself, “I need to pray about that.” I will stop what I am doing and say a prayer and if I am able, add it to my prayer list right then and there because I know I will forget if I don’t.
If I see a stranger and something seems wrong, I will immediately say a silent prayer for them such as, “Lord, I lift this person up to You. I don’t know what to pray for this person but you do. It could be for a homeless person, someone walking down the street or a young mom with a crying baby in the store. It is about being obedient to God’s nudges.
I have found that when I pray and give thanks throughout my day, not only do I stay more connected to God, but I don’t feel guilty if I miss my morning devotion or quiet time. When you make a habit of doing this, it will soon become a way of life for you. Pretty soon you will find yourself doing this more than in the morning or at bed time and you will experience peace as you go about your day.
Lord, I thank You that I have the privilege to come to You in prayer anytime and anywhere. I thank You for all of Your provisions. Help me to live out Philippians 4:6 and not be anxious about anything but pray about everything, letting You know my burdens and thanking You for all that You are doing in my life. Open my eyes to those that are in need of prayer this week. It is in the name of Jesus that I pray these things. Amen.
June Memory Verse:
“Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.”—Philippians 4:6 (NLT)
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