Narrow Road to Heaven

When and Where to Pray

When should I pray? Anytime you want to because that is what God desires. God gives us permission to come to Him and pray at will. We can pray in the shower, in the car, in the gym, or in the grocery store. We can say this, “God, please bless me this day. Keep evil and wickedness from my family and me. Thank you for all that you have given to us. Forgive me of my sins, in Jesus’s name. Amen”.

His ears are open to the righteous, born-again Christians, who have accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. There is never a wrong time to go to God in prayer. Do it silently in your mind while on an elevator, “Lord, be with these parents whose child is in critical condition and is on a breathing machine. Give the medical staff strength and knowledge to heal that sweet little baby. You can do all things. In Jesus's name. Amen”. I’ll let you in on a little secret. There’s a saying my father used to say, “It is best when you pray for and bless others.”

Quiet Time

Becoming close to God in prayer means leaving behind all the excess noise and interference that life brings. Noisy rooms are not optimal places for a spiritual connection with God. Mothers with small children will have to be creative when spending quality time with our Heavenly Father. A precious little one clinging to your every move can interrupt even regular bathroom visits. Try practicing prayer before your child goes to sleep. Mommy or daddy can say bedtime prayers to their children and enjoy the sweetness of watching them fall asleep afterward. It is good practice to develop your children's spiritual maturity. It will keep you on your biblical toes when they ask you umpteen questions!

Jesus taught us to pray in secret or in a private place. God wants the conversation to be personal. Outside distractions can disrupt your thoughts and your prayer to Him. Jesus also taught us to pray often. He would go early in the morning to spend time with God by Himself. Anytime you pray to God is acceptable. Even so, morning prayers are your most effective time to talk to Him. That way, you’ll start your day by asking for guidance and instruction. You ask Him to help you get through the most challenging times of the day too. Just pray to Him for strength and endurance.

Investing the Time to Pray

Your body requires energy to get you through the day. You eat breakfast to give you physical endurance. So, you should also feed your spiritual needs. Begin your day by praying to God and reading the Bible. Before you read the Bible, ask God to help you apply the scripture to your life. Ask him for help in understanding it.

Do not make excuses such as, “I don't have that much time in the day.” If you are watching some T.V. program late at night, change your habits. Go to bed earlier and get up earlier, so you will have time in the day to spend with God. I used to say the same thing, “I don't have that much time.” I did not realize what I was implying until I did. A. W. Tozer said, “The man who would truly know God must give time to Him.”

I found the time to spend talking to God and reading His Word. I learned more about God’s time clock by building my trust in Him and having patience. During the time I waited on God’s answer to my prayer, I learned to be patient. And during my patience, my trust in God grew stronger and stronger. It stemmed from my belief that He will do as He has promised to do. I learned to be dependent upon God in all that I do.

We get some understanding of God's timing from The Holy Bible. 2 Peter 3:8 tells us that one day is as a thousand years to Him. The Psalmist says, “For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past” (Psalm 90:4). God is not limited to time. His idea of time is entirely different from our concept. God is at the beginning of time and at the ending of time at the same time. God is the Eternal God—He is forever.

The point to take from this is to make time to talk to God in prayer regardless of how tedious your personal or business life may be. Invest five minutes of your morning communicating what is on your mind. Let Him take over from there. John Bunyan said, “He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day.”

You will be surprised how uplifting just a few minutes spent with God will make your day. A day that would be so much better than one without Him. Seek Him diligently from your heart. Ask Him to help you, and wait for His answer. Previously nailed shut windows of opportunity will suddenly become wide open. Miraculous healing that once seemed impossible becomes a reality. The alcoholic loses the desire to drink, and the hardened heart becomes soft. The lost become found. The poor become prosperous, and failures turn into successes.

Believe this, my friend, the power of prayer can change things. Nothing is impossible with God when we are centered and focused on Him— praising, serving, and doing His will. When we seek God’s glory and His will above all things, seek the kingdom of heaven and all His righteousness, and demonstrate a godly and faithful desire, the spirit of prayer becomes active. “The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:16). The power of prayer changes things—God changes things.