It's easy in times like these to let that part of your prayer life begin to slip. It's easy to get so caught up in doing the business of the kingdom that you begin to neglect your fellowship with the King.
After all, when the antichrist system is knocking on our nation's door, who has time to just sit around loving on God, adoring, and blessing Him? Who has time to sing in the Spirit and bask in His presence just waiting on a simple Word from Him about your own little life when nations hang in the balance?
Who has time for a devotional prayer life when there is such need for supplication and intercession?
I'll tell you who. We all do.
Why? Because it's the richness and depth of our own devotional time with God that determines how much of the heart of God we have. It's our daily, personal intimacy with Him that determines how well we live. And, try as we may, my precious friend, we will never pray any better than we live.
Only One Thing
If you remember, Martha complained to Jesus that her sister Mary wasn't helping her serve. But Jesus told Martha that her sister chose the better thing which was to sit at the Master's feet and fellowship with Him.
I love that story! It reminds me that life in God is wonderfully simple. Only one thing is absolutely necessary and that's fellowshipping with the Master. Everything else we need to do will come from that time with Him.
When you begin to let that truth slip away from you, prayer can become very complicated and burdensome. Just think about it.
There are so many people and leaders and nations, so many situations that are in desperate need of prayer, how are you ever going to figure out just in your own mind what to pray for? And even if you do decide you know what to pray about, without the strength and refreshment that comes from personal fellowship with God, those intercessory-type prayers will absolutely wear you out.
Let me ask you something. Do you want the strength to keep praying in faith for seemingly impossible situations day after day? Do you want the spiritual energy to keep praying in faith for your family or your nation or your lost neighbor even when all natural hope is gone?
Well, faith works by love. So the more you fall in love with Jesus, the stronger your faith and your prayers will be.
That's the truth! When you spend time just worshipping Him and surrendering yourself to Him, when in times of devotional prayer you begin to see Him and experience His love, your soul will absolutely burn to do something for Him.
You'll be on fire with the power and desire to pray out His plan. You'll pray for your family, for nations, for souls, and for the Church with greater effectiveness than ever before.
Not only that, but the time you spent fellowshipping with Him will so sensitize you to the movings of His Spirit that you'll be able to discern more accurately just how to pray. You'll be able to follow Him more easily in times of intercession or supplication. You'll be able to sense what's important to pray about right now…and what's not.
Your Love for Jesus Will Keep You on Track
There is just something about spending time loving and worshipping God that will keep you on track.
No wonder Jesus, when He was asked what the most important commandment was, answered this way. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt. 22:37).
No wonder that He rebuked the church at Ephesus in the second chapter of Revelation. Despite their hard work and the fact that they held fast to sound doctrine, He said:
I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God's will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.Did you notice what He said there about them falling from the heights? If you want to go to high places in the spirit, if you want to pray from that high place where you are seated with Jesus in the heavenlies, here's how to do it.
(Rev. 2:4-5)
Spend time cultivating your love for Jesus. Spend time worshipping and ministering to Him. Spend time just getting to know Him through prayer and the Word.
I'm telling you, the more you do that, the more you will fall in love with Him and the more you fall in love with Him the better you will pray.
(Minneapolis: Mac Hammond Ministries)
All rights reserved. Used by permission.
A teacher and an author, Lynne publishes a newsletter called Prayer Notes, has written numerous books, and currently serves as the national prayer director for Daughters for Zion. Her passion for inspiring and leading others into the life of Spirit-led prayer continues to take her around the world to minister to believers whose heart cry, like hers, is “Lord, teach me to pray!”
