1. This week’s Quiet Times: Focus: A Closer Walk with God
Prayer is a Lifestyle Not a Destination!
MONDAY
Have you ever heard a statement similar to
this, “Prayer is a lifestyle, not a destination!”!
It’s true 1 Thes. 5:17 our lifestyle as
Christians in large part has to do with our
connecting (fellowship) with God through
prayer. Have you been connected with God
much recently? Have the lines been jammed
by too much little stuff? Is it time to clean
the room and make space for God in your
life? What are you going to make less space for to fit God in? As you work on
putting prayer in your schedule remember, God is always there ready to listen;
when you go to the Father in prayer He will hear (Heb. 13:5; 1 Pet. 3:12)! Write
down your favorite Bible passage on the subject of prayer and memorize it. Pray
today more than you did yesterday.
TUESDAY
Ere you left your room this morning did you think to pray? Can you remember this
song? This is one of those songs for me, that really helps me to focus on my
responsibility of prayer to my awesome God. How about you? Do you feel a pull
towards fellowship with God when you even just read the words to this song? You
do need to focus on God especially when you start your day (Psalm 5:3). Today,
seek the favor of God in your life. Ask God to be with you and bless you as you live
for Him through this day, in the name of Christ the Savior. Make yourself be ready
to serve the Lord in some way by being spiritually awake to what is going on
around you and towards those you communicate with today. Be like Epaphras
was. Ask someone if you can pray with them or for them (Col. 4:12).
WEDNESDAY
“In everything (all circumstances) give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning you” (1 Thes. 5:18)! Whatever comes your way, in Christ we
should always be thankful to God for what He allows to come our way. Even
challenges and difficulties hold a blessing, for which we can only see such
potential through the eyes of faith (James 1:2-5). And, if we find ourselves lacking
the wisdom to pilot and maneuver through these challenges we can surely ask
2. God and seek His counsel to help us (Hebrews 4:14-16; Prov. 3:5-6). The intimate
relationship that we should experience and grow in with God will help us to cast
all our cares upon Him because we KNOW that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:6-7).
Read Philippians 4:6-7. What will a close relationship with God in prayer help you
to get rid of that robs so much of many people’s thoughts and time today? What
are you suppose to make known unto God? Do you know now that God wants
help you? What kind of life does God really want you to experience on the inside?
Write down Phil. 4:6 and memorize it.
THURSDAY
Pray all the time! Read Luke 18:1-8. What is one purpose for prayer here?
Count your blessings! How many times do you just stop give a quick prayer to God
and thank him for your various blessings throughout the day? I’m not talking
about the regularly scheduled prayer times but the various times you consciously
recognize something wonderful and give a heartfelt thank you to God. Today see
to it that you count your blessings much more than usual and give to God many
more thanks for giving you so many blessings. Think about your soul’s salvation,
family, church family, friends, enemies, acquaintances, leaders, country, and so
on to help you get going (cf. 1 Tim. 2:1-2).. Read Ephesians 5:19-20. Our songs
and prayers won’t be complete without the constant ingredient of thankfulness
for all things to God. Grateful hearts will give us happy hearts.
FRIDAY
Read Matthew 6:5-15. Pray in secret! Part of the goal in quiet times (devoted
time) for God is private prayer. Do you go to a place in secret, away from
distractions so you can pray? This is one type of prayer lifestyle to have,
preferably daily (Mark 1:35; cf. Luke 9:23). To go a day without serious prayer is
like going a day without food. Jesus left us an example of constant fellowship with
the Father (Luke 6:12). Think about it, Jesus prayed in secret so there could be no
distractions. Jesus’ prayer before the most difficult time before his physical agony
was in Gethsemane “alone”, it was in private away from his closest friends (Mt.
26:36, 42, 44). In private prayer we can draw closer to God in our heart (spirit)
and spend time with Him in meditation upon what He has revealed to us in the
Bible, His word. See to it, that you go to your secret place to enjoy fellowship,
closeness, peace and rest that God gives us through prayer. Write down James
4:8 and some ways that you can do what it tells you through prayer.
Let us live to make each day a closer walk with God!
