November 3, 2024 - INSCRIPTIONS FROM THE HEART

By Cheryl Zamora 

In the midst of our busy schedule at home, at work, at school or even at church, there is the tendency to overlook one of the important disciplines of the Christian life which is the time spent alone in the presence of God, in His Word and in prayer. Our concerns for daily sustenance, our future plans and the current pressures that we might be facing and struggling with, are just a few of what can grab our attention away from this spiritual discipline. So we ask ourselves, can we still find time for prayer? The answer is a big yes. 

Because Jesus exemplified this for us and therefore we must do likewise. Jesus during his ministry here on earth regularly and consistently practiced prayer. “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35, ESV), or in Greek “he prayed”, here is “he continued in prayer”. He was about to begin His first preaching and healing ministry and as on similar solemn occasions (Luke 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28, 29; Mark 6:46), He spent some time in special prayer, those special moments with His Father alone before commencing His ministry for the day. 

So if our reason of not consistently praying because we are too busy, then let us think and consider the Lord Jesus. He must have been the busiest person during his time here on earth! His time spent with His Father undoubtedly gave him the strength to be able to attend to all His earthly daily ministry. So are we too busy not to pray and be still in the presence of our Lord, really? 

Let me encourage you my brothers and sisters to specifically assign a schedule for prayer, being alone with the Lord. To hear Him speak to us in His Word. To be able to pour out our hearts to Him. So that we can draw from our inner stillness the strength and wisdom that we so need to face our battles each day. May it be that we start the day and end the day on our bended knees. Maybe if I can suggest, you can have it in your smart phone’s daily reminder so you won’t forget. A quiet place is of good help in doing this. But if there is none, that shouldn't restrict us from doing the spiritual discipline of solitude & prayer, instead may we find our hearts’ stillness in His presence. 

“But I, O Lord, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you” (Psalm 88:13, ESV).