Spiritual Habits
“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning.”
Psalm 130:5-6 ESV
Praying every day transforms lives. Mornings waiting on the Lord blesses the beginning of each new day. Meeting the Lord in the evening, and reading His Word, bolsters our relationship.
“When our quiet times have become hurried, how can we expect to give God the adoration that is His due? How can we receive the guidance that God is waiting to give? How can our hearts catch the glow of divine fire? How can we have deep fellowship with those purposes that are really nearest to the heart of God?“ Gordon M. Guinness
Rising early, before the pressures of the day, and quietly seeking Him, brings peace.
“It has been said, that no great work in literature or in science was ever wrought by a man who did not love solitude. We may lay it down as an elemental principle of religion, that no large growth in holiness was ever gained, by one who did not take time to be often, and long, alone with God.“ Austen Phelps
We know we are to pray His will, that if we pray according to His will, He hears us.
”And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.” (1 John 5:14-15 ESV)
”He is a prayer-hearing God.” George Whitefield
Reading Scripture can leave us with questions. Seeking answers from Him can be starting points for our prayers. He wants us to ask.
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.“ (Matthew 7:7 NLT)
In challenging or troublesome situations we may wonder why He doesn’t intervene in a more discernable way. We may justly cry out, ”Why me Lord?” He won’t get indignant if we do.
”…I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NIV)
”Affliction quickens the spirit of prayer. Jonah was asleep in the ship—but at prayer in the whale’s belly! Perhaps in a time of health and prosperity we pray in a cold and formal manner—we put no coals to the incense; we scarcely minded our own prayers, and how should God mind them? Then God sends some cross or other affliction to make us take hold of Him. Now their prayers pierced the heavens! In times of trouble, we pray earnestly and fervently.” Thomas Watson