Divine Direction
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.—Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
Be unceasing in prayer.—1 THESSALONIANS 5:17 AMP
Paul’s statement concerning prayer seems impossible. Nonstop prayer? How can we ever achieve that in our hectic world?
By our awareness of God. Through it, we become conscious of Him and discern His active involvement in our lives. God wants to have a relationship with us, and prayer demonstrates our faith in Him. His Word tells us to stay in constant contact.
Nineteenth-century preacher Charles Spurgeon described the Christian’s prayer life as follows: “Like the old knights, always in warfare, not always on their steeds dashing forward with their lances raised to unhorse an adversary, but always wearing their weapons where they could readily reach them…. Those grim warriors often slept in their armor; so even when we sleep, we are still to be in the spirit of prayer, so that if perchance we wake in the night we may still be with God.”
Prayer strengthens us for any battle. It’s our armor and our mightiest weapon against fear, doubt, discouragement, and worry. Prayer changes our perspective and allows us to face the cares of each day. When our whole world is falling apart, prayer can keep us together.
That’s why constant prayer is so important.
Dear Father, I want to be in the center of Your will. Please help me to “be unceasing in prayer.”
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.—Proverbs 3:5–6 (NIV)
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.—Matthew 6:28–29 (NIV)
Be sure you know the condition of your flocks, give careful attention to your herds; for riches do not endure forever, and a crown is not secure for all generations.—Proverbs 27:23–24 (NIV)