Too Busy to Pray? - 14/04/10
By Kiara Crofts
The middle of semester is a nightmare. With uni assignments building up, new friendships being formed, old friendships to keep alive, a part time job, some sport and a weekly dose of church, it’s no wonder that supposedly ‘uni-free’ time we call Easter break felt too short. Already we are dreading the hecticness of classes and hanging out for the next holidays.
Despite all the advances of our modern world, we are increasingly time poor. We continually try to cram more into our days, finding more efficient ways to do things so that we can fit more in, waking earlier and going to bed later and communicating with more people in more ways. This way of life can at times feel rewarding, but where does it leave you and God?
Before I continue I have an admission to make. I’m not qualified to be writing this. In fact prayer is something that I have struggled with a lot lately. I am often distracted by shiny things that stop me from talking to God, I fall into the trap of saying the right things, not what is on my heart and I don’t often cry out for God’s kingdom to come to this earth.
Thankfully, God teaches us about prayer in his word. And who better to learn from than the one to who we’re praying?
The Bible tells us to:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thess 5:16-18).
Often we mistake prayer for a shopping list, checking things off as we ask for them, another job complete. We spend some ‘quiet time’ with God, leaving with a feeling of contentment, ready to get on with the rest of the day. But this is not the description that Paul gives in 1 Thessalonians. Prayer is not simply asking. It is an admission of our weakness, an acknowledgement that it is by God’s grace alone that we can stand before him. God’s will for our life is to never stop praying − to thank him at all times, in all things; to come before him daily, so that we might grow closer to him daily.
How well do you know God? Is he a casual acquaintance, someone you call on as a last resort? Or is he someone you talk to everyday, who shares in all your joys and struggles? God longs for intimacy with you. He longs to hear the sweet sound of your voice. To hear you, his treasured child, singing his praises.
My prayer for ECU is that we would be children who delight in spending time with their Father. That we would prayerfully seek to have eyes to see, ears to hear and hearts that hunger for the restoration of our Father’s kingdom here on earth.
I urge you to be creative in finding ways that will help you to engage with God daily. Get up earlier, sing songs of praise on the bus, go for a prayer walk, journal your thoughts, stick up photos of things you need to pray for, make a second coffee and sit it across the table from you, meet with others in a prayer triplet. The list doesn’t end there. Do whatever it takes.
If you would like to help out with coordinating prayer at ECU please speak to myself, Shannon Bakarich or Jon Baird. We would love to hear any ideas you may have.
Kiara Crofts (Visual Arts & Graphic Design, 2nd Year) just took the big step of deleting herself from the world of Facebook. She also likes stargazing.
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