...is no more possible than to be alive without breathing. - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Rejoice always,
pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Today as my 3 year old niece and I were enjoying a tea-party she stopped me and said "don't drink yet, we need to pray". I was taken aback by that comment but inside I was pleasantly surprised. We stopped pouring tea, bowed our heads, and she spouted off a couple words I couldn't understand. I think God heard, understood, and was enjoying the conversation over tea.
After a couple cups of tea found their place in our bellies, Ry looks up at me and spoke "STOP, it's your turn to pray to the Father". I bowed my head and offered a thanks to God for the "tea" and the company. How simple it was to stop what we were doing (for a few seconds) and pray. There's not a better way to bring people together then over a meal or tea. Discussions, conversations, and true community happen around the table. It's easier to remember to pray when sitting around the table seeing the blessings that God provides through food but we are called to pray continually!
The dictionary definition for continually is "very often; at regular or frequent intervals; habitually". The word habitually stuck out the most to me. Prayer should be a habit not just a second thought throughout our day. Yesterday as I was walking home from school I was thinking about how I didn't pray once while I was in the classroom. I prayed while I was getting ready before school but not during. As the day went on, my nerves were frazzling, and the students were getting wild, that's when I needed to pray the most! Praying in the morning was a great way to get my day started and praying while going home was a productive time to spend the minutes walking but praying should be ongoing not only during certain times of the day; like supper when sitting around the dinner table.
How can I make prayer a habit? Every time I pass something, think something, or do something how can I get my thoughts to go directly into conversation with my creator?
It'll take practice, discipline, and grace from God to help me do this. I read on a website at beliefnet.com, ten quick ways to pray. Here's the list:
1. When your alarm goes off in the morning, open your eyes and repeat this line from the Psalms: "This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad."
2. Water is a powerful spiritual symbol. As you soap and rinse in the shower, pray to be cleansed of any feelings of anger, bitterness, resentment, or regret. Recall the words of Isaiah (58:11): "The Lord will guide you continually… You shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters never fail."
3. This one is especially for those who commute to work. Turn your time behind the wheel into time for prayer. Before starting the car engine, place your hands lightly on the steering wheel and breathe deeply several times. Ask the Holy Spirit to steer you through your day. Back out of your driveway slowly, and remain aware of the slowness. As you drive, think about your 'to-be' list. Let words like compassionate, serene and diligent percolate through your mind. Let grace-filled thoughts carry you in a loving manner through the day.
4. If you work on an upper floor in a multi-story building, skip the elevator and climb the stairs. Make your climb work for your body and your soul. Climb thoughtfully, breathing slowly. Use the time alone to experience a connection with God. Pause at each landing. Catch your breath, and focus for a moment on the blessings in your life. Say thanks before continuing your climb.
5. No stairs? Next time you share an elevator with someone, say a silent prayer. Ask God to meet the other person's unique needs. Add a smile of your own.
6. We all feel too busy. It has become a workplace axiom that multi-tasking is a good thing, but a growing body of research shows that it actually erodes productivity. Instead of dividing our concentration among many tasks, do one thing at a time-prayerfully. Offer your work as a prayerful gift to God. Ask for the grace to do it meaningfully, and without anxiety.
7. In times of stress, we are often tempted to reach for foods that aren't healthy for us. Before you reach for the fried foods, sugar or chips- try this. Wait one minute. Offer the minute to God and ask for the grace you need to control your appetite. Chances are you'll no longer be tempted until the minute is up. If you do give in-just remember, God forgives you. Forgive yourself.
8. Native Americans have this saying: "Never let a day go by without touching the earth with your foot." If only a couple of times each week, take a five or ten minute break to walk in a meditative way. Give up your usual energized stride to pay attention to the movement of lifting your leg, bending your knee, and placing your foot. Observe your breathing and your body. Look around. Notice the squirrels, the trees, and the sounds of nature. Nature tunes us into God's presence.
9. Next time you cook, pay attention to the memories that are sparked by the dishes you make. Perhaps you have old recipes lying around that you have forgotten about. Bless all those who sweeten your recollections, thanking God for the spiritual nourishment these people have brought to your life.
10. This is a good one for moms of school kids. When making your child's lunch, whisper a prayer as though you are sending the prayer right into your child's meal. You might even tuck in a blessing on a post-it note.
Some of these ideas aren't pertinent per say but good idea starters and ways to change our thoughts and attitudes toward prayer. I hope our thoughts about prayer may change from just at tables and in bed, to a continuous conversation. Let it be a constant on-going tea party with the lover of our souls.
