Prayer is vital to the Christian life. 

But let’s be honest, we can get stuck. Even if we don’t get stuck, we probably want to go deeper.

Prayer is deceptively simple. A very basic definition is that it is talking with God. So, why can it be so hard—either to get out of a rut, or to experience spiritual growth in this part of our lives? 

The answer to that question has many facets. Plus, each person is different. However, today’s devotional is a resource to help you, no matter who you are and no matter where you’re at.

There is a simple, ancient practice that many of us have forgotten about. It’s using short one-line prayers as you go about your day. This is not intended to replace other forms of prayer, but is something which can tether us to God and keep us communing with him throughout the day, often in powerful ways.

I find it especially helpful to use sentences that are found directly in the Bible. The idea is to use the same sentence for an entire week. Here are four quick examples: 

1. “Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). These are the words from the young Samuel in the temple. This, too, is a great prayer for each of us. 

2. “Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10). Is there ever a day when we don’t need this? 

3. “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” (Luke 18:38). This was the cry of the blind beggar who was looking for help from Jesus. 

4. “Not my will, but yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). These are words that Jesus prayed to his heavenly Father on the night before his torture and crucifixion. 

If you’d like to see more examples, you can link to the blog and podcast episode below. 

Today, simply ponder whether this idea might be a helpful resource to you. Since the idea is to use the same sentence for a week—or even a month—your energy isn’t spent on memorizing. You are simply entering into that prayer as you go through your day. 

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Paul encourages his readers to “pray without ceasing.” Perhaps this is one the ways you can do so. 

In this practice the people of God are using the word of God to commune with God for the glory of God.

Let your good Spirit lead me—and all of us—on level ground.

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Notes:

#dailydevotional #faith #Bible #JesusChrist #prayer #spiritualdisciplines #spiritualgrowth

-“Short one-line prayers from the Bible to help you pray without ceasing.” Click here. [This is the resource mentioned above.] You can also listen at ‘The Pulse Podcast with Matthew Ruttan’ on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

-“Born To Die that We Might Live: The Prophecy of the Coming King in Isaiah 53.” Click here. Sermon.

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.