Top 10 Joy Killers: Prayerlessness

Intro:
This one hits close to home. I am challenged recently that my popcorn prayers may not be adequate.

I will often pray through the Lord's Prayer to help me remember key things (like confession of sin, starting and ending with God, realizing that I am in a spiritual battle, seeking God's will).

In his book the Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennen Manning tells about a two story house that caught fire. The family was was making it out of the house when the smallest boy became terrified, tore away from his mother and ran back upstairs. Suddenly , he appeared at a smoke-filled window crying hysterically. Standing outside, his father shouted, "Jump son, Jump! I will catch you." The boy cried, "But daddy, I can't see you."
"I know", his father called, "But I can see you."

When we forget to pray we lose sight of God's control, his care and his love.

Read: Philippians 4:4-8
4 Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! 5 Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Think:
When we pray we are in tune with God's heart and more likely to see him in action. Prayer is a window into heaven. It is a means that God has given believers in the Lord Jesus Christ to catch his view of things. It tunes us to do his work. It tunes us so we can join him.

When we fail to pray we fail to see what God is doing and what he has for us. What are we to pray about? Everything (v. 6). Paul loves this type of language: everything, anything, all things. He did not believe we could compartmentalize our lives and turn out ok.

We are to take it all to God: our joys, our worries, our schedules, our family, our friends, our enemies, our hurts, our hang ups, our habits, our church, the bills, vacation, Bible time .... everything.

When we take everything to God we experience God (v. 7). We know his peace and love and joy. We just might get a glimpse into what is happening.

Prayerlessness is a definite joy killer.

Do:
So, what do you want to do about this? Will you take time to pray? I have included the creepy hand below as a tool to help us in our prayers today. Reach out to him and see him work.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.