Too Busy to Pray?

Praying in the “Fast Lane.”

• Perhaps one of our greatest challenges is to slow ourselves down to pray as we should.

• Our fast-paced lifestylesfast-paced lifestyles are often a reflection of our values, our need to achieve, an expression of independence, and a demonstration of self-sufficiency.

• Prayer can be a very humbling experience as one puts his/ her trust in God.

• We pray each day, not only out of duty, but also of spiritual necessity.

Devoted Christians Pray.• There is never a dull moment in

living a hectic, busy lifestyle, yet the price often paid is quality prayer time with God.

• How many of us maintain a daily, quality, prayer time with God?

Quality Prayer Time• Beyond giving thanks before your

meals, do you each day, individually and in a personal way, take the time to pray to God and…

• Express your heart?• Offer praises and thanksgiving?• Present both physical & spiritual

requests?• Make confession and/ or ask for

victory over sin?• Place your faith and trust in the

Lord?

Can we claim to be devoted to God if we are not devoted to prayer? Acts 2:42 (NASB) And they were

continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Romans 12:12 (NASB) rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, Colossians 4:2 (NASB) Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

Devoted Christians Pray.• Devoted Christians have a

close (i.e., right, constant, genuine) relationship with God as a result (at least in part) of their commitment to prayer.

Psalm 42:1-4a (NASB)1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So my soul pants for Thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; When shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my food day and night, While they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?" 4 These things I remember, and I pour out my soul within me…

James 4:8-10 (NASB)8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be miserable and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.

Commit Yourself to Slow

Down and Pray!• Like quality time in marriage, prayer time with God requires a commitment to give Him your time.– A loving, intimate marriage

requires…

• Sacrificing certain activities in order to spend time with one another.

•Planning and communication

• Talking to one another, making time for one another.

•Similarly, if we are to be devoted to God and thus be devoted to prayer as we should (Col. 4:2), we must commit our TIME to the Lord.

Ephesians 5:15-16 (NASB)15 Therefore be careful how

you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Commit Yourself to Slow

Down and Pray!• Commitment to prayer requires the resolve to make whatever changes and sacrifices that are necessary.

Do You Continually Say to Yourself…

“I’M JUST TOO

BUSY TO PRAY.”?

Remember Your Pledge to the Lord!Luke 9:23 (NASB) And He

was saying to them all, "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.

Commit Yourself to Slow

Down and Pray!• Devotion to prayer requires that we free ourselves from worldly entanglements.

2 Timothy 2:3-4 (NASB)3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. – cf. Heb. 12:1

Free Yourself from Worldly

Entanglements!• “Worldliness” or being caught up in the world’s agenda, goals, and activities is often the culprit for the neglect of prayer!– Some worldly activities may not be

sinful to start with, but later become sins when they enslave or dominate our time and lives (1 Cor. 6:12).

– Examples: Career, hobbies, community activities, events, TV, movies, Internet, newspaper reading, magazines, books, gaming, sports, etc.

The cares of this world are like thorns that “choke

out” our prayer life.• Luke 8:14 (NASB) "And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Prioritize by always putting God first. – In preparing our daily

schedules, God must come first!

– If prayer is truly important to us, we will make time for it.

• Rather than worry that prayer time will put us behind in our work, let us remember the promise of God...

Matthew 6:33 (NASB)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you.

Develop the Holy Habit of Prayer• Like Daniel (Dan. 6:10), David

(Ps. 5:1-3), and Jesus (Mark 1:35), we must work to develop the holy habit of prayer.

Repetition in Holiness Has Value!1 Thess 5:16-18 (NASB)

16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Purpose to have quality prayer time with God.– Put forth your best as you pray

to God because God is our first love! (Luke 10:27; cf. Rev. 2:4).

– Like a marriage, quality time with God in prayer is essential to a right relationship with the Lord.

– Carefully thought out prayers that are in harmony with Scripture and are from the heart are essential (e.g., Mat. 6:9-15; John 4:23-24).

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Each day, examine yourself before God in light of yesterday’s events: Your thoughts, deeds, decisions made, errors, successes, Scripture learned.– Prayer can heighten our spiritual

focus each day, promote our spiritual growth, and stimulate personal examination.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NASB)23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way. – cf. Col. 1:9-10

Prayer is a Great Motivator!• Prayer helps us keep track

of spiritual goals and progress “in Christ” (e.g., prayer journal).2 Corinthians 13:5 (NASB) Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you — unless indeed you fail the test?

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Remember that prayer is a privilege.– There is a temptation to take

prayer for granted.

Psalm 5:7 (NASB)But as for me, by Thine abundant lovingkindness I will enter Thy house, at Thy holy temple I will bow in reverence for Thee. – cf. Hebrews 4:16

•Prayer is not a mere exercise or duty, it is communion with the Lord Almighty who is listening to every word that we say! (1 Pet. 3:12).

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Don’t think of prayer as a “one-way street,” but “listen” to the Lord’s “reply” as revealed in the Scriptures.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NKJV)16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God (i.e., God-

breathed – ML) , and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

How to Establish Daily Prayer Time with God.

• Believe that God answers prayer today (Heb. 11:6):Psalm 5:3 (NASB) In the morning, O LORD, Thou wilt hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to Thee and eagerly watch. – cf. 1 John 5:14-15

• There is great motivation to pray when you know it makes a REAL difference in your life!

Take the Time to Pray Each Day and

You Will Be Blessed Spiritually

and Eternally.