Living In a Spirit of Prayer

For many of us who profess to follow Christ, much inward change may be needed before we can hear God correctly. When trouble comes – for example, when we have car problems or get into a dispute with someone – how long does it take us to bring it to God in prayer? When we see an accident or some violent behavior or we hear an ambulance down the street, do you think to hold those concerned up to God in prayer? When we meet with a person for any reason, do we go in a spirit of prayer that we are prepared to minister to them, and they to us? When we are alone, do we recognize that God is present with us? Does our mind spontaneously return to God we are not intentionally occupied, as a needle of a compass returns to the north pole when removed from near magnetic sources? –Dallas Willard

Scripture calls upon us to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thes. 5:17). This suggests a life of inner prayer, conversing with God in every setting and situation as we walk through life. For me, it’s the consciousness of God’s presence with me at all times; ongoing dialogue as life unfolds. It’s practicing the presence of God in a practical way. Are you living in a spirit of prayer?