It's important to spend time with the Father every day. Living in this world, with all of it's input, we simply cannot afford to walk alone. We desperately need God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit. With the busy-ness of the modern world and the age-old demands of flesh, it takes discipline and self-control to establish a continual, consistent prayer-life. But even though getting going can be tough (and there are dry seasons here and there even afterwards), the rewards are worth it: overcoming sin, gaining insight into particular scriptures, receiving answers to questions, developing the fruit of the Spirit, turning stubborn emotions, getting a "renewed" mind, seeing loved ones get saved, troubleshooting problems, intensifying closeness to God, flowing in the gifts of the Spirit, and the list goes on and on....
Some people like to get up early, and begin their day in praise and worship, seeking direction, interceding for others, meditating on the Scriptures, committing themselves,their schedules, their businesses, etc. to the service and worship of God. Other people find the solitude they need for prayer and study at night, after the kids are in bed and the chores are done. Some people are naturally "night people" and are more awake at the end of the day than at the beginning. Still others both begin and end each day in intimate conversation with the One who Sustains them.
Perhaps you already spend time with the Lord faithfully, nearly every day, yet you feel the urge to spend more. How many times has your heart lept when your pastor challenged the congregation to delve more into God, but then your heart began to sink when you considered the limitations of having only 24 hours in a day. You may have tried to figure out what to cut out, but it seems you've already eliminated everything but the important and necessary. If you're like me--a homeshcooling, make-it-from-scratch, attends-every-service, sings-in-the-choir, in-ministry Mom of small children, you understand totally what I mean! Or perhaps you juggle homemaking with an outside job or part-time ministry, have a demanding career, attend school, or are in full-time ministry. Whatever your scenario, you know that you want more of God but you're not sure what to do.
By all means, keep spending your special time with God, giving Him your undivided attention...it is SO important! But you can supplement that time by meeting with God informally throughout the day, while doing the various "mindless" activities that we do. You, like me, can learn to cultivate your "think time" or "daydream time" into added opportunities to fellowship with the Lord. The following are some suggestions for "talk time" with God--whether in your English or native language or else in your special "prayer language" (tongue), or both. Depending on your level of privacy and your boldness, you can also worship and sing!
WALKING THE DOG: Actually, whether you're walking the dog or walking yourself, it makes no difference. Use this time to bounce things off your Heavenly Father.
GARDENING: As you're sitting in your flowerbed pulling weeds, or digging little holes for seed, start praising the Lord for all that He has done.
MOWING THE LAWN: Your neighbors might think your'e a little "different", but if you have a loud mower, you can probably get downright excited while spending time in the throneroom. You can sing, shout, praise, stir yourself up with the Scriptures,whatever!
WASHING DISHES: I like to sing praises while I'm standing at the sink. Or sometimes I listen to a teaching tape. If I've fallen behind in housework and have to do dishes in the early morning hours during my regular time with God (everyone else is still in bed), then I usually pray while I scrub.
COOKING DINNER: Since I tend to follow recipes with most things, and I can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, cooking and prayer in my English don't work very well. But I sometimes pray in the Spirit while cooking. It is also an excellent opportunity for throwing on a Praise and Worship tape, or a teaching tape.
DUSTING: This mindless activity is such a great time to spend with the Lord, yet our tendency is just to daydream. With a little practice, you can learn to go right into prayer as soon as the dust rag gets in your hand!
PAINTING AND SANDING: Are you currently doing any home improvements? Many of the tasks involved are kind of mindless activities, such as sanding and painting. Seize the chance to get into your prayer closet.
SEWING: Include with this any needlework, crocheting, knitting, embroidering, etc. If what you're working on can be done in "automatic", use your brain, your spirit, and your mouth to minister to God, or to intercede for others.
SHOWERING / BATHING: Like to sing in the shower? I do! But I don't waste the time singing to the air much anymore--I like to sing my favorite Praise & Worship songs to the Lord, or else I pray in the spirit or just plain-old worship God, thanking Him for all the things I'm thankful for.
NURSING / ROCKING THE BABY: If you have a baby or small child, rocking time can often be good time to spend with the Lord. I prayed in the spirit a lot when I nursed, particularly when it was in the middle of the night. Sometimes I sang songs to the baby, and sometimes to the Lord. Children seem to take comfort in the sound of their mother's voice, even when you're not talking or singing directly to them. If you're nursing or bottle-feeding, rocking a baby to sleep, or comforting a sick child, your prayers and songs can serve two purposes.
ROAD TRIP: The car is a favorite place to pray for many people because the distractions are so few. The dirty dishes can't beckon you, the yardwork won't call to you, your neighbor can't pop in for an impromtu chat, the phone can't ring (if it does, that's your fault for having a car phone!), and there's NO COMPUTOR OR TV! If you have the luxury of traveling, especially long distances, without children in the back to break your train of thought, then take advantage of those precious moments, or hours!
HIKING & CAMPING: Even when you're "getting away from it all" you can spend some of the time refreshing yourself in the presence of the Lord. I find that getting out of the city into natural surroundings is a very spiritual experience in and of itself, so when I take the time to talk to God, it's even more intense. I know it's just a perception, but it's almost like instead of calling God on the phone, I get to go right where He is.
