Prayer time should be scheduled into daily routines

Religion Columnist

School's been in session for a month now and we're back into the routines we're in the habit of during the school year, but get lax about when summer comes. That's OK in many cases because there's no need in dragging people out of bed to get on the bus when no bus is coming.

Anyway, I was thinking about school routines recently and realized that our family drops one of our most important habits when school is out - praying together before the girls leave the house. This doesn't mean that we don't pray about the events of the day and upcoming events when we have dinner together every day, and sometimes lunch.

It also doesn't mean that we don't begin our day individually with prayer. Because there's a break in our routine of having family prayer before anyone leaves for school, we just have to be more diligent in personal prayer, maintaining our connection with God no matter what anyone else is doing. I know many people whose routine is a "Thank you, Lord," before their feet hit the floor in the morning and a, "Forgive me, Lord," before their eyes shut at night. I often do that too, especially when I've not had a particularly good day or I'm anxious about something coming up.

The point is that we should have regular prayer times, whether personally or in public, which includes family times, and whether or not the public or family opportunities are there (Matthew 6:5-8; Daniel 6:10; Acts 3:11; 16:25; 1:14).

We're to pray continually, which doesn't mean we're to not do anything else (1 Thessalonians 5:17; bookmark that). It just means that our first thought in any matter is to take our thoughts to God first. This includes matters of concern, such as seeking forgiveness and facing the trials of life (1 John 1:8-9; Matthew 26:47; James 5:13-16; 1 Peter 5:6-7). Thankfulness also should be directed toward God first. In fact, we're to be thankful that we can take our petitions to him (Philippians 4:4-7; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; Hebrews 4:14-16). Did you catch that? We're to be joyful continually in the Lord, thankful that we can approach his throne of grace to obtain help in time of need. That's my prayer routine - spontaneous.

To form any habit there must be a starting time. The next time you're in a hurry and make that red light or see one of our spectacular sunsets (or sunrises), just think who caused that for you and say, "Thanks, God." You know how it is when you have good news - you can't wait to share it with someone. So, go ahead and tell God. You also know that you like to get things off your chest. God won't blab it out to anyone. Once you get the "thank you" part down, the "help me" part should come naturally.

Do you have a routine of regular daily prayer and going straight to God when any need or opportunity to praise him arises?

Leonard Lauriault is a member of the Church of Christ in Logan. Contact him at [email protected]