“Rejoice
always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will
of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Do you know someone who talks to God – out loud? Do you think they are odd, eccentric or perhaps just a little fanatical? Maybe, but there may be another possibility and that is they are merely behaving like children talking to their Father with a sense that He is present and listening all the time. At the high school graduation commencement Saturday, the valedictorian began his speech with “God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.” Words that are not politically or culturally correct, but true nonetheless! When Paul told the Thessalonians to pray all of the time, he was really saying, “Be aware that you are in the presence of God and have the liberty to talk with Him anytime and anywhere, about anything, all the time.”
Talking and praying are the same thing, with the difference that when we pray it is directed to the Creator God, when we talk other times, it can be toward anyone, even ourselves. Unfortunately, for many of us, we talk or pray to Him only on rare occasions. In times of need where what is happening is beyond us – we need help so THEN we turn to God. I was talking with our granddaughter, Laura, just the other day about this. To make my point I stood by a light switch with the light turned off. I said, “This is how we treat God.” I flipped the lights on and said, “God I need something.” And then switched the light back off. The light was my awareness and attentiveness toward God. I then switched the light back on and said “God did you hear me?” and switched the light back off.
I told Laura that we treat God that way, but that is not what God wants. I switched the light on and continued to talk with the light on. “This is how God wants us to live. Always aware of God’s presence. Always looking to Him, trusting Him. Living our lives with the light on all of the time.” Without ceasing.
It is all too easy to neglect our spiritual nature in favor of our natural one. Life just seems to get in the way. We just bought a house in Texas. The back yard has been neglected for years. Vines have taken over what used to be a beautiful water feature. You can't even see it. That is how it is with our spiritual nature, beautiful as it is, our spiritual life can become overgrown with our natural life, so much so that others may not even know it is there.
Perhaps you need to spend more time talking with your Father. It can and will change your life. Keep that light switch on - let the Light shine.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
Do you know someone who talks to God – out loud? Do you think they are odd, eccentric or perhaps just a little fanatical? Maybe, but there may be another possibility and that is they are merely behaving like children talking to their Father with a sense that He is present and listening all the time. At the high school graduation commencement Saturday, the valedictorian began his speech with “God is good all the time and all the time, God is good.” Words that are not politically or culturally correct, but true nonetheless! When Paul told the Thessalonians to pray all of the time, he was really saying, “Be aware that you are in the presence of God and have the liberty to talk with Him anytime and anywhere, about anything, all the time.”
Talking and praying are the same thing, with the difference that when we pray it is directed to the Creator God, when we talk other times, it can be toward anyone, even ourselves. Unfortunately, for many of us, we talk or pray to Him only on rare occasions. In times of need where what is happening is beyond us – we need help so THEN we turn to God. I was talking with our granddaughter, Laura, just the other day about this. To make my point I stood by a light switch with the light turned off. I said, “This is how we treat God.” I flipped the lights on and said, “God I need something.” And then switched the light back off. The light was my awareness and attentiveness toward God. I then switched the light back on and said “God did you hear me?” and switched the light back off.
I told Laura that we treat God that way, but that is not what God wants. I switched the light on and continued to talk with the light on. “This is how God wants us to live. Always aware of God’s presence. Always looking to Him, trusting Him. Living our lives with the light on all of the time.” Without ceasing.
It is all too easy to neglect our spiritual nature in favor of our natural one. Life just seems to get in the way. We just bought a house in Texas. The back yard has been neglected for years. Vines have taken over what used to be a beautiful water feature. You can't even see it. That is how it is with our spiritual nature, beautiful as it is, our spiritual life can become overgrown with our natural life, so much so that others may not even know it is there.
Perhaps you need to spend more time talking with your Father. It can and will change your life. Keep that light switch on - let the Light shine.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [asking or begging for something earnestly or humbly], with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
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