Good morning. I pray that your day looks promising and that your commitment to find God’s will within the moments of your day is strong.
Occasionally, I have used this “thought for the day” space to address personal prayer, but I wonder if I have done so in sufficient measure. Personal prayer is such an incredibly important part of our lives that it certainly demands frequent thought and description.
For today, I have compiled a list of quotes on the traits of personal prayer from some noteworthy individuals. You may recognize all of them, but probably not. I am hopeful that you will find their thoughts regarding how they carry out their personal prayer life of interest, and perhaps even inspirational.
Elisabeth Elliot Gren, a life-long missionary and well-read author: “I begin each time of personal prayer with a hymn, any one of several that I have memorized. I then recite the Lord’s Prayer. Making things personal, I begin with praise and thanksgiving and then move on to prayers of confession. Finally, I share with the Lord my fears and my needs and end with a prayer of thanksgiving.”
Bill Hybles, pastor, author and speaker: “I write out my prayers to God, longhand. It is the only way I can sustain focus and really organize my prayers in a balanced, meaningful way. Obviously, throughout my day I pray out my prayers of the moment.”
Joni Eareckson Tada, author and inspirational speaker: “My disability is my greatest asset in prayer because my disability forces me to bed early. Once there, I often have several hours to meditate, think, reflect, sing, and pray to my Lord. I don’t know that if I could walk I would have the discipline to carve out this amount of time in prayer. That is why I boast in my affliction.Throughout my prayer time I interject phrases from my favorite hymns and songs. So many wonderful composers have captured truths and emotions in their music, it seems very natural to meditate on those beautiful words and harmonies and to let them carry my heart in prayer.”
Kent Hughes, pastor, author, and speaker: “I always begin my personal daily prayer time by reciting Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. I feel that the challenge to “stay alert” means for me that I am always sensitive to the needs and situations that are around me. I keep a list of current prayer focus for Christians around the world. For some, I pray for their safety and protection. For others, I pray for their personal needs in body and spirit. For all, I pray that on that day, they may be lifted up spiritually to discern God’s will and to have the courage and strength to accomplish His will. I keep a personal prayer notebook, and each day I look at my prayers from the previous day, then those of one week earlier, and finally those of a month earlier. By doing this, I find great encouragement in seeing how God is at work within my prayers. Every day, I pray for my wife and each of my children. It is a blessing to know that they are held within God’s protective arms.”
Crawford Loritts, pastor, author, associate director for Campus Crusade for Christ: “I have developed the habit of writing a prayer letter to the Lord each day (and yes, I save them, so much so that my wife swears they are a fire hazard). I write to the Lord of my need for cleansing and forgiveness. I write of my concern for my family and their spiritual wellbeing. I write for wisdom and direction, that God will guide me through another day in His kingdom. I then pause to read scripture, and will return to the Lord to pray for what those words mean to me. Once a month, I find that I need to take an entire day and withdraw to a place of complete privacy where there are no interruptions. I dedicate those days to fervent prayer, and I review my letters from the previous month.”
Bill Bright, evangelist and college professor: “I once found my self bound by a spirit of legalism in my prayer life. I had become so regimented in the discipline of prayer that I felt that I had lost my heart for prayer. I repented of this, and now I strive to find the heart of prayer throughout every day rather than be limited to designating specific times and places. I want to know that my prayers are alive, rather than simply feeling that prayer has been, ‘accomplished.’”
I hope that these words that reflect upon personal prayer lives will encourage and inspire you in your own prayer journey. One thing I notice is that there are many approaches to having a meaningful personal prayer life, but there is a uniformity of understanding of the need for power in personal prayer.
God bless you day and your prayers and remember the National Day of Prayer coming Thursday, May 6th.
Vern