Too Busy To Pray

Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
-Matthew 11:28-29

Make Time For God With A Busy Schedule

The Bible encourages us to pray without ceasing, but that doesn’t mean we have to be down on our knees with a bowed head every minute of the day. However, if you desire to put God first in your busy life, you will want to make time daily to talk with Him, even if it’s only for five minutes. A lot can be said in just five minutes, especially if you are the only one talking.

Here are some suggestions:

before you get out of bed
before you go to bed
while you are taking your shower
during your morning routine
during your lunch break
after dinner

Find A Quiet Place To Pray

So, you’ve found the time, but do you have a quiet place? In our fast-paced society, it is often difficult for people to find time and space in their lives where they can take some moments just for themselves. However, there are many times throughout the day when no one else will be nearby, and you might have an opportunity. So, use that precious alone time wisely with prayer or meditation. Stop for five minutes and purposely set that time aside for you and God. Sit in a closed room or closet. Find a special place that will not be interrupted. Or go into another room away from everyone else. Stop, breathe, and pray for five minutes.

End Your Prayer By Praising God

An example: So, You have just awakened from a very short night’s sleep. You have a ton of obligations waiting on you just as soon as you flip the covers off and your feet hit the floor.

STOP! Don’t get out of bed yet.

Take a deep breath. Hold it for a second or two and then slowly let it out. Inhale the first breath and in your mind, greet the Father as you exhale. Then inhale the second breath and greet Jesus as you exhale. Yeah, you got it! Greet the Spirit with your third round of deep breath-hold-and slowly exhale.

Already your morning is looking better!

After you bring your petitions and requests to Him for the day, end your prayer with a few words of praise, adoration, or a chorus (don’t sing it out loud, you still have your morning voice).

Examples:

O Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth
Praise God from Whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above thy heavenly host. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Lord, You are my strength, my strong tower, my hiding place.
You are the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, and the end.
You are the King of kings and the Lord of lords.
No one is comparable to You. You have no one who is Your counselor.
You are the Creator, Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, and I will put my trust in You.

We all need to make time for God in our lives. Make a point of spending some time with Him every day, and you will see how much it changes the way you think about your life. Ask Him what He wants from you today or why something is happening in your life right now. You might be surprised by His answers.

Let me know how you make prayer a priority. What are some ways that you’ve found to incorporate more prayer into your busy schedule?