Opus 2021-312: Two Pronged Focus for Prayer

I said earlier that I don’t understand prayer.  I find much prayer monotonous repetition.  I like to refer to the Lord’s Prayer for examples of how I should pray.  I find it helps to use it as a template for my prayer adventures.  But there are other indicators on how we should pray.  Read the context of Paul’s admonition to pray which I quoted last time,

(1Th 5:16-18 KJV)  Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

I take this seriously.  When I have my morning day-starter of worship I try to begin and focus with those two ingredients:  Rejoicing and thanks.  Not only does it help my attitude but it reminds me of all the things that God is doing.

We live in a blessed bubble of history.  Compare what you have to do to get a sandwich.  After driving in an air-conditioned car to an air-conditioned grocery store, you walk into your air-conditioned house and put it all together.  Go back a few centuries.  You would need to start by plowing the ground to plant the wheat.  You can use your imagination to take it from there.  If you focus a little bit you can come up with a few material things yourself.

If you know what it is to trust in Jesus you also have the added assurance of God’s presence in your life and a blessed eternity.  As we anticipate Thanksgiving and approach Christmas you can focus on the forgotten message,

(Gal 4:4 KJV)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

Be thankful that you know to whom we are thankful.  Be excited because you have heard about the events that Christmas celebrates.  Rejoice in the knowledge that if there are no toys to buy this year you still know about the greatest Gift.

Blessings.

homo unius libri