Adding Another Discipline

Scripture: Confess your faults to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man accomplishes much. Elijah was a man subject to natural passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the sky gave rain, and the earth brought forth its fruit. James 5:16-18

Observation: At the end of James - what I have heard called "God's little instruction book" - James encourages the reader to pray more often. He specifically discusses praying for the sick, praying confession, and praying for each other's sins and redemption. In the midst of that, he uses Elijah as the example of a man of prayer.

For Elijah, prayer was not a one-way transmission. Prayer was a conversation. Elijah received detailed instructions during times of prayer. In all cases, he received guidance for both word and actions, and in many cases he received direct responses to requests like withholding rain or calling down fire on a sacrifice. This is the nature of prayer. Prayer is the baseline communication channel with God. It is not just about talking to God, but combined with scripture it is the means of talking with God.

Application: I know I do not pray enough. I say those quick prayers during the day about specific events or issues, but I don't have a time of relational prayer with God.

In the last two years, my devotions have changed my heart and my daily walk with God. I am closer to him, encouraged by his word and instruction, challenged by his teaching, and comforted in his love. I need to now establish a time of daily prayer. I need to determine a way I can clear my head - and my schedule - to find dedicated time of sustained prayer with God every day.

Prayer: Lord, please guide me in determining my path of prayer. Help me to rightly prioritize time with you in my daily walk. Amen.