Who am I depending on? Am I depending on myself or on God? I was reading a devotional recently in the Bible App, a reading plan centered on the book of James. In the devotional (provided by New City Delhi church) I came across this paragraph:
“How is your prayer life? Prayerfulness shows our dependence on God and prayerlessness shows our lack of dependence on God. This is a brutal reality, but it’s the truth. We can claim to depend on God but it is always demonstrated by a life of prayer.”
This really struck me.
Prayer = dependence upon God. Lack of prayer = dependence upon self.
I like to think that I depend upon God but do I? My prayer life doesn’t readily show it. It can be hard for me to prioritize spending concentrated time in prayer. I’m pretty routine-dependent in a lot of ways and life under COVID has thrown it off quite a bit. Prayer is also work. It can be hard to not only set the time aside but then to have my mind and heart focus on Him and not to wander off in distraction. I did hear a good tip about that – if you are distracted as you pray, then pray about what is distracting you! Let your prayers follow your thoughts.
Of course we can pray anytime all throughout the day. That is one of the many wonderful things about prayer – anywhere, anytime, anyplace. However, I also can see the benefits of slowing down and taking specific time to share with God about the things on our hearts and minds. (yes, He already knows – but somehow this still works!)
We see Jesus pray in all sorts of situations- alone, with others, before making decisions, and big events. If Jesus, the Son of God, depends upon God through prayer, shouldn’t we?
“During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission.” Hebrews 5:7
