March 11, 2019 WWJWMTD by Steve, the son of John

It’s Too Easy

It is far too easy to put God on hold. He wants to talk with you but no matter how often He encourages you to pick up the phone and talk/call Him, you have something better or more pressing to do. You think God will always be there so you ‘put God off’.

It is easy too just put off praying, but praying is the first sign of humility—‘to pray’. Jesus prayed often and had to go off by Himself in order to find time to pray. It is no different today. I have had God tell me that I need to pray and not stop praying. He usually says to me, “Don’t stop” or “Pray a little more”. God wants us to pray without ceasing the Bible says.

God does not talk with me unless I am talking to Him. Yes, He says little things to me without warning, but when I need direction or help, He wants me to spend time talking to Him about what is happening. God is a ‘God of relationships’—He is into ‘talking’.

However, I like being busy and like to get things done—done in a hurry. God is not in a hurry, and why should He be in a hurry. This is not to say God is not busy—but God wants me to be busy about what He is doing. This is the conflict, my schedule or God’s schedule? To pray means I am willing to be second fiddle in God’s band. I must humble myself if I am going to pray. Praying means it is not about me but rather my relationship with God. God comes first and I am always second (though God makes me feel like I am first when He answers my prayers).

Scripture states, “Humble yourself and pray, seek God’s face and turn from your evil ways.” To be willing to pray you have to humble yourself. Humility requires a commitment from you and I—we are putting God before our schedule, our goals, and our timeframe.

Jesus had to go off by himself to pray. He usually went up into the mountains, late in the night, to just pray and get close to God. You and I cannot find what God wants us to do without prayer. It is a humbling experience. It is an attitude of commitment. A commitment to humbling oneself comes before one prays to God.

I encourage you to make a promise to yourself, not to God, to pray more often by praying longer and pray while no one is around. It is from humility to praying more often with more passion, to finding what God wants us to do. From humility to prayer to direction is when God shows up in our lives. My gosh, a little more time in prayer and then watch God answer all our needs, address our problems and find purpose in living. God keeps His promises; let’s keep ours through prayer without ceasing. It’s a Jesus thing!

WWJWMTD

What would Jesus want me to do?

Dr. Steven J. Wentland www.wwjwmtd.com

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