This devotion is part of a series of devotions on how to grow in your walk with God. If you have not already done so, you may find it helpful to read the introductory devotion, Growing in God: Mommy Edition.
I remember my daughter Ellie’s first prayer, at about age eighteen months. As she sat in her high chair, ready for a meal, she bowed her head and clasped her little hands. “Myna, myna, myna, myna,” she said. “Amen.”
Then there was Lindsey’s prayer, which despite being only 9 words long (if you don’t count the greeting and closing), was one of the most profound prayers I have ever heard. “Deah God,” she prayed, “I wike you. And I don’t wike the devil. In Jesus’ name we pway, amen.” I think that about says it all.
As adults, we somehow get the idea that prayer has to be more complicated. That, combined with the fact that we know how important prayer is, can lead to a lot of guilt over not praying “right”. Add the fact that as moms, we’re busy, and we don’t always have the time we’d like to have, and the guilt increases. Then, because we feel so guilty and don’t think we’re going to get it right anyway, we start avoiding prayer. It’s a vicious spiral designed by Satan, who doesn’t want us to spend time communing with our God. It’s such a sneaky tactic that we often don’t recognize it as coming from him. We think it’s just the natural result of “the way life is.”
But we’re wrong. Our natural inclination, as a new creation in Christ, is to commune with our Creator. We have a new nature, and therefore, new natural inclinations. Yes, we still have to put the old nature to death. But it’s not who we are anymore. Who we are is a child who dearly wants her Father. Anything contrary to that reflects someone we aren’t anymore.
So how do we make it happen? How do we establish the meaningful prayer life our new nature desires, when our old nature and current schedule get in the way?
First, and perhaps most important, we need to remember that God loves us madly and passionately. Despite our weakness and sin, despite our lack of merit compared to Him, He loves us. And even more than that, He’s proud of us. He’s willing to stand before the princes and rulers of this world and say, “She’s Mine! This is the one I love!” Mom, if we even begin to comprehend His love for us, if we focus on it, we’ll desire desperately to be with Him. Our souls hunger to be loved that much, and if we know that that’s how God loves us, we’ll be irresistibly drawn to Him. We won’t be able to help spending time with Him.
Second, we set other priorities aside to give time to talking with God. Whether we have an hour to talk to Him, or ten seconds, we make the time. That time can be made in the midst of driving somewhere, taking a shower, or doing laundry. It can happen when you wake up before the kids and the house is quiet, or as you sit nursing your baby. But if it’s going to happen, you have to be willing to let other things go. And you will be, if you truly believe prayer is a priority.
Third, we give up our ideas about there being only one right way to pray, as well as the mistaken belief that prayer will look the same each time. Prayer should at times include praising God, entreating Him for yourself or others, asking forgiveness of sins, and thanking Him for what He’s done, but not necessarily all of those things each time you pray. Present yourself before God as a learner, and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray. You can’t guarantee a meaningful prayer time simply by structuring the minutes a certain way. But you will find rest for your soul when you connect with your Lord, heart-to-heart. That’s what God wants from you, anyway: your heart.
Martin Luther once said, “I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer.” You and I may not have three hours. But let’s take the time we do have and spend it with our Father. It’ll be worth it.
Ephesians 6:18—Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.