The saying “Ain’t Nobody Got Time for That!” went viral a few years ago. It was uttered by Kimberly Wilkins in a TV news interview right after she escaped an apartment fire. Video clips and memes of her and that phrase were shared millions of times. They made Kimberly a bit of a celebrity.
Kimberly and her catch phrase came to mind as I listened to a speaker in Chapel at Bethel yesterday. Pastor Courtney said the average American Christian prays maybe 3 or 4 minutes a day. I don’t know what his figure was based on, but I fear the point he was making is true. It seems “ain’t nobody got time for prayer” now.
When I talked with retired people before I gave up full-time employment, most of them said they were as busy as ever. I’ve found some truth to that as well! We may choose more of what we do each day, but the days still fill up. Is it OK so many of us seem to be too busy to pray?
Kimberly and her catch phrase came to mind as I listened to a speaker in Chapel at Bethel yesterday. Pastor Courtney said the average American Christian prays maybe 3 or 4 minutes a day. I don’t know what his figure was based on, but I fear the point he was making is true. It seems “ain’t nobody got time for prayer” now.
When I talked with retired people before I gave up full-time employment, most of them said they were as busy as ever. I’ve found some truth to that as well! We may choose more of what we do each day, but the days still fill up. Is it OK so many of us seem to be too busy to pray?
However, if one wants to be a bold disciple of Jesus, “ain’t nobody not got time to pray!” We may pray like Jesus taught us to pray when we are at a church on Sunday and say the Lord’s Prayer. That’s a good thing! But is there more to praying like Jesus did? Did Jesus pray just once a week at temple? Did Jesus pray just three or four minutes a day?
If we want to grow to be more like Jesus, we need to pray more like Jesus. Jesus spent time with the Father in the morning and late at night. Jesus prayed at mealtime. But He also prayed throughout the day, sometimes even in the middle of conversations with other people. Jesus prayed before He healed people, while He healed people, and after He healed people. Jesus asked the Father for what He wanted. Jesus also regularly thanked and praised His Father. Jesus lived a life of prayer. Jesus was praying when He died. Prayer was Jesus' strength and comfort.
Paul exhorts the church at Thessalonica:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NIV)
If you want an easy Bible verse to remember, 1 Thess. 5:17 is for you!! “Pray continually.”
If we want to grow to be more like Jesus, we need to pray more like Jesus. Jesus spent time with the Father in the morning and late at night. Jesus prayed at mealtime. But He also prayed throughout the day, sometimes even in the middle of conversations with other people. Jesus prayed before He healed people, while He healed people, and after He healed people. Jesus asked the Father for what He wanted. Jesus also regularly thanked and praised His Father. Jesus lived a life of prayer. Jesus was praying when He died. Prayer was Jesus' strength and comfort.
Paul exhorts the church at Thessalonica:
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thess. 5:16-18 (NIV)
If you want an easy Bible verse to remember, 1 Thess. 5:17 is for you!! “Pray continually.”
My last two blog posts captured some frustration and even anger I was feeling. I’ve realized if I have time to be frustrated, I have time to pray. If I have time to start getting angry about something, I have time to start praying about it. I don’t have time to not pray if I want to walk worthy of the call of being a disciple of Jesus.
What issues are you dealing with? Maybe, like me, you don’t have time to not pray either.
What issues are you dealing with? Maybe, like me, you don’t have time to not pray either.
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