Getting Ready For The Week

If we’ve spent any time in the church we’ve heard that we should spend time in prayer. Maybe we’ve heard it called a ‘quiet time’ or a ‘devotional time’. Maybe we’ve been told it should always be in the morning so it starts your day off in the right direction or that we need to have a specific place that we go every day to talk to God. Regardless, the idea is the same: there should be a segment of time every day that we set aside to be intentionally with the Lord and have a conversation with him through prayer. And if we wanted to try being really spiritual we could add fasting from food or media or something we love to help us hear God even better. If we’re not careful our expectations around the ‘shoulds’ of prayer can lead to rule following and box checking…even pride. 

On the other hand, if we haven’t spent much time in church and these concepts are new to us…it probably sounds pretty bizarre. Talk to someone that’s not physically there? Sounds more like a sign of something mentally problematic. Give up food? Sure, if I’m trying to lose a few pounds, but for spiritual insight…what would that even look like? And what am I expecting to hear exactly? A booming voice from heaven? A little angel whispering on my shoulder? It all seems pretty far-fetched and hokey. 

The good news is, you’re not alone. Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer, and most of the people around him seemed pretty confused by it. Whatever your preconceived notions are about prayer and fasting, we’d encourage you to approach this week as an invitation. What if the God of the universe, the Creator of heaven and Earth…and you…is inviting you to experience him in a way you never have before? What if talking with him didn’t have to feel formulaic or awkward? What if your prayers didn’t just bring you peace, but actually changed things in your life or the lives of people you prayed for? What if talking with God felt more like talking to a friend…the best friend you’ve ever known. What might he have to say to you?