07/27/2024
How much time do we spend with God? In the midst of busy lives, how do we order our days, and specifically our time spent in prayer? Is God leading our life or just filling in the gaps between worldly activities? These are all questions of great importance to our Christian walk. A study of evangelical Christians revealed that the average evangelical spent no more than 10 to 20 minutes each day in prayer, study, and reading the bible. It also revealed that those who were young and forming careers and families spent much less... They typically prayed while walking, driving, or as they found time between other activities.
I am now in my mid-seventies and have lived through those younger years when there didn't seem to be enough hours in the day. I too found prayer where I could gather a moment here or there, but as the years passed, I gained in wisdom and came to realize that if I was going to experience the fullness of God in my life, I had to do more. I had to spend more time with Him.
“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
Ephesians 3:14, 19-21 ESV
This isn't a new thought for most of us today, it is simply a matter of priorities. What I would like to tell you though is that you don't paint the picture of your life and then attempt to fill in the empty spaces with God... you will find that it is tedious, difficult, and your brush will stray into what you thought was a beautiful picture. There is a better way to paint your life... You begin by painting the entire canvas with God and then paint your life on top of that! God will show through every opening and provide a foundation for all that follows, and in the end the picture will be crisp, clear, and beautiful.
“For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.”
1 Corinthians 3:11-13 ESV
Our lives begin with God, and our days should begin in prayer to Him as well. Paint the canvas of each day with His Word and your prayers so that He provides the foundation for all you will do. Allow Him to be the beginning of your day and not an afterthought... Not filler.
Painting God onto your canvas takes time, so we will need to rise early and give Him the appropriate allocation of our time. Jesus had incredibly busy days, but He made adjustments so that His canvas was covered at the start of each day...
“That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.”
Mark 1:32-35 ESV
As we read this scripture we understand that Jesus was busy into the night... Just as many of us are... Yet He rose early the next morning, separated Himself to a quiet place, and started His day in prayer. His faith wasn't painted around the events of His life... His life was painted upon His faith. No matter what happened that day, God was always there as the brush moved across the canvas.
If we begin our days in substantial prayer, our lives will be easier, and the flaws in a day's canvas will be covered before we step out of our prayer closets. Smooth the way, and allow God to fill you with His peace. Knowing that He goes before our every step is so reassuring... He is removing every evil influence... Let Him comfort you.
“Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith.”
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2 ESV
This morning when we pray, let's ask God to give us strength and energy to do His will. Let's ask that He provide us not only with a time for prayer, but with the strength and determination to seek Him as Christ did... far beyond a fleeting moment here and there. Then let's thank Him in advance for the blessing that our time with Him will be to us and our families. God is our provider, defender, Father… the foundation of our lives.
“He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”
2 Corinthians 1:10-11 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for being the foundation upon which the entirety of our lives rests. Thank you for not being a filler that we must paint tediously into the emptiness of our lives, but for being the underlayment upon which all we do is painted. Thank you for showing yourself from the emptiness between our moments in the world, and everything we do for you each day. Give rest, peace, and sure footing to all we do, and those times when our spirits are still and waiting on you. You are the preparation of our canvas, the melody that supports every note we sing, the background that gives definition to all we do. Thank you Holy Father. You are the faint glow of morning light beyond the grey hills and mountains of our lives, and the radiant color of every sunset that makes us sigh “Glory” with approaching night as we lean into you in prayer. You are the glistening eyes of frogs peeking from the surface of a pond, and the white foam that rushes before the crashing waves on every beach. You are the big and small… new and old… subtle and bold of life, and our lives. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who is with us always, beneath our feet wherever we step, and in the whispering rush of each breath we take. Praised be your name Abba for giving our lives definition, and for showing forth from beneath the empty moments when we aren’t actively serving you. Merciful and full of grace are you in all things, and radiant in glory are you as we anticipate your revelation. Hear our prayers Lord, and fill every pause and the rest between our words and notes with your quiet repose. Carry our brushes smoothly over the canvas as we paint, and hold the notes of our chords as we add life to our faith and worship. Shine from beneath the scenes, and resonate from beyond every note as we sing. Holy are you, the great I Am who never leaves us lacking, nor removes yourself from us. Wonderful is your name, and beautiful the light of every moment of day as we walk towards eternity with you. and stand firm upon the foundation of a life with Jesus Christ. Amen, Amen, Amen!
“fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 ESV
“You have given me the shield of your salvation,
and your right hand supported me,
and your gentleness made me great.
You gave a wide place for my steps under me,
and my feet did not slip.”
Psalm 16:35-36 ESV
Rich Forbes