by Dorette Saunders
The Scriptures tell us that Jesus often took time to go to a quiet place to commune with God. It was our Savior’s way of connecting with his Father, and our model for making it a priority to be in constant communication with the One who loves us and who holds all power in his hand.
While we plan to achieve certain goals for this brand new year, God’s wisdom tells us that we need to bring all that we hope for to God in prayer.
“We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NLT).
As we look around us, the world has become more chaotic, more uncaring, and tumultuous, but let’s not give in to the temptation to turn away from prayer, or from God. Let us not step off the path. Now, more than ever, we need the steady hand of our Savior to direct and guide us.
Perhaps, we don’t have what we think are the “right words” to approach God’s throne of grace. But the amazing thing is that he tells us to come just as we are. For it is in these moments that “…the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:26-28, NLT).
Be encouraged that God knows the groaning of our hearts and the stirrings of our spirits. Know that our God neither slumbers nor sleeps. Nothing catches God by surprise, and certainly nothing slips by him. In his time, God will fix what needs to be fixed, and dismantle what needs to be dismantled.
God is waiting for us to come to him in prayer. God invites us saying: “ … if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14, NLT).
Even when words do not escape our lips, surely we can say, “Lord, hear our prayer.”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, we have so much to pray for, and it seems our busyness crowds out the longings of our hearts. Pull us away to a quiet place where we can hear your heart, and listen to the tender whisperings of your Spirit. Give us a heart to worship and adore you. Give us a heart to love our neighbor, as ourselves. Give us a heart to shine your light wherever we are, and give glory to you in all things. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
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