“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Be alert and always keep on praying for all.”- Ephesians 6:18 (NIV, abridged)
At the risk of sounding like an old-timer longing for the days when we chopped our own wood and fetched our own water, I do wonder if our automated lives have dulled our spirits. We’re the opposite of alert to opportunities for prayer.
People in many parts of the world still walk from place to place, still have their hands in the earth of their gardens, wash the dishes by hand and regularly take the stairs. These mundane tasks, rather than being an annoyance, can be a gift. Each of these activities provide time for thinking. And of course, for praying.
I think we are in danger of creating lives so full, so busy, so intertwined with screens and devices that we have removed many of the mundane, boring moments that give our brains the opportunity to reflect, and our spirits the chance to pray.
What would happen if we took the daily chores of our lives and turned them into triggers for prayer? It might change our attitude to boring routines – perhaps we’d anticipate them as a gift instead of being resentful that we have to do this, again. But more than that, it might change our prayer life.
If you decided that every time you had to queue, you’d pray for your partner, every time you hang out the washing, you’d pray for your children, every time you stop at a traffic light, you’d pray for a neighbour, you’d probably have a more consistent prayer life. Reclaim the boring parts of your day – lean into God by praying.
Three things to pray today:
1. On your commute to work or walk to school, pray for the people you see around you. Ask God to let them know that they are not alone.
2. Every time you walk up a flight of stairs today, pray for your family. Ask God to guide them in through the challenges of life.
3. As you drink a cup of tea, coffee, water or juice today, pray for those overseas who are not living in a place where it is safe to openly follow Jesus. Ask God to encourage and refresh them.
