I Timothy 2:1 “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving be made for all people”.
For several years, I have been using a prayer journal to write out my prayers for everyone. Today was no exception, I prayed for you. This is my ministry to pray for all people. However, sometimes my prayer journal is full of complaints and distracted thoughts. I forget to be thankful above all. I also need to focus more on worship in my prayer time. Both should help me become less distracted. I should also keep a spot for my to do list as sometimes when I am praying for someone it reminds me, I need to do a certain thing. I often stop writing in my prayer journal and pick up my phone to do that certain thing and next thing I know a half an hour has gone by and I need to get ready for work. God must feel insulted every time I do that.
Yet, prayer does not have to be formal like a prayer journal or a prayer group at church. Those things are helpful, but you can stop what you are doing and say a quick prayer in your head when a need arises. My customers and coworkers would be surprised how often I pray for them. But this is a reminder I need to pray for the ones I do not like as well as my favorites. Sometimes, God will give me a customer who is going through a hard time. I will often ask their first name and ask if I could pray for them. Almost everyone I ask is grateful I asked. I usually do not have time to write anything down, but I do have time to say a quick prayer for them in my head. It is rare I find out how the situation turned out, but I know I have placed the person in God’s hands and can let Him handle it.
I guess when God kept denying me jobs in counseling, He knew I needed to be working at Walmart where I could be there at the right time to be a help to someone who was hurting. It helps being able to feel God’s leading me to talk to someone. There is a verse which says, “pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17). I do not believe God wants us to constantly be praying but to have open heart to His leading. I am not perfect, but I try to sense God’s leading me to pray for someone just like He often leads me to write on a certain topic. Reading the Bible every day helps keep me in tune to His leading. It is wonderful sometimes how it works out. One morning I will read something in the Bible and later I need it in a conversation or situation. God knows what I need. In this new year I pray I will always be open to pray!
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Your faithfulness is inspiring, I am more of a quick “HI God kind of a prayer, however, about 2 years ago I decided to make half my prayers ones of gratitude. It’s changed my entire outlook on life and the world! It has made me more compassionate, and I don’t know how that works, but it has. Blessings for 2020.