A Portrait of Prayer
My mom turned 70 years old the other day. I don't know what images come to your mind when you think of a person in her 70s, but if you think of someone who is frail, slow moving and wrinkled as a Chinese shar-pei puppy, think again.
My mom works out at the local YMCA and scurries after her great-grandson, Wesley Adam, when she baby-sits him. Her skin is as smooth as a porcelain doll. Sure, she has one or two age lines, but she's been married to the same man for 50 years and has raised her eight children to love God.
But if my mother were writing this blog, she would tell you that the secret to looking and feeling great can't be found in some age-defying beauty cream. She would tell you to pray—all day!
My mother constantly prays. It doesn't matter if she's at the mall or at a cheerleading competition with her granddaughter, she prays. No, she doesn't make a spectacle of herself; she describes her prayer life as an internal, ongoing conversation with God.
When I was a young child, I would poke my head up during family prayer wondering when it would end because I wanted to go play. But as a Christian, I now understand my mother's motivation to pray. She's developed the discipline, commitment and devotion to God to do it.
As believers we have a spiritual mandate to pray and not let up. The Bible tells us in 1 Thess. 5:17 to "pray without ceasing" (NKJV), but we hesitate to follow this mandate because we want to see immediate results. When I hear people talk about how difficult it is for them to pray, it makes me think they would rather endure the pain of a root canal than slip to their knees. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Just start talking to God wherever you are. Ask Him to speak to you. Tell Him to use you for His glory. Find out what He wants you to pray about. Tell Him how much you love Him, and then worship Him. Before you know it, you'll look forward to your conversations with the Father.
But don't put Him off any longer. Start praying right away.
Valerie G. Lowe is the editor of spiritledwoman.com and associate editor of Charisma magazine. She is the founder of Keep the Faith Single Moms Ministry.
My mom works out at the local YMCA and scurries after her great-grandson, Wesley Adam, when she baby-sits him. Her skin is as smooth as a porcelain doll. Sure, she has one or two age lines, but she's been married to the same man for 50 years and has raised her eight children to love God.
But if my mother were writing this blog, she would tell you that the secret to looking and feeling great can't be found in some age-defying beauty cream. She would tell you to pray—all day!
My mother constantly prays. It doesn't matter if she's at the mall or at a cheerleading competition with her granddaughter, she prays. No, she doesn't make a spectacle of herself; she describes her prayer life as an internal, ongoing conversation with God.
When I was a young child, I would poke my head up during family prayer wondering when it would end because I wanted to go play. But as a Christian, I now understand my mother's motivation to pray. She's developed the discipline, commitment and devotion to God to do it.
As believers we have a spiritual mandate to pray and not let up. The Bible tells us in 1 Thess. 5:17 to "pray without ceasing" (NKJV), but we hesitate to follow this mandate because we want to see immediate results. When I hear people talk about how difficult it is for them to pray, it makes me think they would rather endure the pain of a root canal than slip to their knees. But it doesn't have to be that way.
Just start talking to God wherever you are. Ask Him to speak to you. Tell Him to use you for His glory. Find out what He wants you to pray about. Tell Him how much you love Him, and then worship Him. Before you know it, you'll look forward to your conversations with the Father.
But don't put Him off any longer. Start praying right away.
Valerie G. Lowe is the editor of spiritledwoman.com and associate editor of Charisma magazine. She is the founder of Keep the Faith Single Moms Ministry.
posted by Valerie G. Lowe at
12:13 PM
7 Comments:
The effectual,fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much!! When I feel stuck (on ocassion my specific prayers have not been answered)--I still will pray. I will listen for His conversation with me.It's my role to be a worship and a sweet smelling fragrance going up to His nostils. I will worship Him. I will celebrate who He is; what He has done historically in my life. I will love Him; I'll adore Him, extol Him and gladden His heart.
I reap the rewards everytime!!
Shannana
First...be encouraged woman of God. Remain who God has given you to be. Prayer and preparation is the key.
Secondly, as a response, when I pray, sometimes I think...am I prayer correctly...I'm in this quandry for a couple of reasons... I feel guilty for not having spent the time with the Lord that I should have AND I've been around so many people, including my husband, whose praying is so melodic and never seems to search for a word or thought. Recently, I'm hearing the Lord say..."talk to me, speak to me in your way...but just talk to me...spend time with me." When I remember this perspective, I feel blessed. It seems that He is saying that, yet again....Just start "talking" to God wherever you are.
What a wonderful, encouraging article and what a wonderful mother! i didn't have a praying mother and often wonder how things would have turned out, if i had but God being the Awesome God that He is has made me into a praying mother and i know that although my daughter may be "impatient" with me and my prayers, one day she will be just like you and see what it all means and understand what a Glorious God we serve.
Thank you for your exhortation to prayer. It is truly needed. Jesus was in constant fellowship with his father. How much more should we be in constant prayer. Short prayers through out the day can make the difference.
I can totally relate to what you are saying, I myself am a lot like your Mom, I pray internally and sometimes outwardly (depending where I am) all day long I am having conversations with God and my Lord Saviour Jesus Christ, I relate all my conversations and/or events to God and my children have said to me "Mom you always relate everything to God" and my answer is "Without Him we are Nothing", so we must always pray without ceasing. Amen. Sister Alma Bailey
Thank you Valerie for that exhortation. You have just reminded me of the importance of prayer and how I need to be talking to the Father constantly. Thank you again.
Regina
I did not have a praying Mother, quite the contrary but I did have a praying Grandmother who really lived the Christian life and because of her I overcame SO MUCH. I am a praying wife, mother and now a praying grandmother of two precious little girls under 2 yrs of age. It's a honor and a responsibility for us to pray for our seed and for others. Prayer is a subject that is of the utmost importance to me and I share on this topic at my prayer blog. Would love for you to visit www.lisatargetprayer.blogspot.com.
Thank you for this encouraging message Valerie and God bless you.
Lisa Shaw
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