Tag: prayer lives - Only By Prayer

This month, I’d like to explore trying something new in our prayer lives. Having a schedule and a routine is a good thing, but sometimes trying something new in prayer can open us up to fresh insights and recharge our prayer lives.

Postures of Prayer

I’ve found that changing my physical posture can bring a different atmosphere to prayer. For example, I grew up in a church where we showed reverence to God by kneeling at different times in the service. In the church I now attend, we rarely kneel. But I like both stances. I have also tried other postures.

A stance that I find myself using frequently in my private prayer time is walking. I particularly use this stance when I am praying warfare types of prayers. For example, when I am praying for someone who is straying from God, or maybe for a missionary in a dangerous situation, I just want to get up and move. It seems to give strength to my prayers as I walk around the room. It seems hard for me to sit still when I know there is some serious praying that needs to be done!

So, this week try a different posture and let us know what you think. Pray on!

Growing Pains

Jane VanOsdol

When I was growing up, I remember that frequently at night my sister Mary would run to our mom, crying because her legs ached so badly. Mom would rub her legs and soothe her by saying that it was just “growing pains” that hurt so badly. While it didn’t make her legs stop hurting, it helped to know that there was something good that would be coming out of this painful process.

I think that we can also get growing pains in our spiritual lives too. Last month, we talked about new beginnings. Well, when we take that step of faith and begin a new process in our lives, somewhere in the process we experience growing pains. We may begin to question our decision. “What was I thinking?” we moan. “I’m not nearly smart enough to do this.” Or, “Why did I join the prayer ministry? My prayers are not nearly as eloquent as John’s are.” Maybe two weeks into our commitment to get up 30 minutes earlier to pray, we are overcome by fatigue and discouragement.

First of all, this is normal. The enemy does not want us making any headway into our spiritual lives, and he will throw obstacles along our path. However, this is also the time that God calls us to grow up. We need to put aside childish ways and thinking and persevere in that commitment, with the assurance that God will bless this new direction in our lives. Our growing pains will produce a harvest in our prayer lives.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you that you bring growth out of the painful processes in our lives. May we no longer be like children, but grow up in all things into You. Amen.