"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10"

Well here we are the first of the year filled with all the promise of a new beginning that inspires an evanescent joy of “I will do it right this time!” For me, there are many things that I can apply this line of thought to but, for the past couple of years it has been my prayer life. The phrase, “Back to basics” has been resonating with me quite a bit lately. I believe that we all desire a rich and powerful prayer life, however good intention is NOT time with the Lord. I cannot count the many times that I’ve set aside for prayer only to have some “emergency” come up and claim that time. What I yearn for is longer alone with my savior. How do we start and if you happen to find yourself in my shoes. How do I restart?
Sit down and look at your schedule. When can you spend uninterrupted time with the Lord. Do not tell me you have no time. You do, I promise. You may have to be somewhat creative but I assure you it will be worth the effort. Years ago the fruition of planning alone time for prayer was; I would close the curtains, turned off the phone and TV. Then I spent time reading scripture and writing prayers in my journal while my children were in school and my husband was at work. Another “date” was when I worked outside the home and had such little time to spare. I would close my office door during lunch and meditate on a scripture. Once you set your date and time. Guard it! The enemy will want nothing more than to spoil your date with the Lord. Under no circumstances are you to let that date and time go, commit to it.
Those early dates with Jesus only impressed on me the importance and the desire to get away for longer uninterrupted time with him. Over the past few years what I have been drawn to is coming before the Lord in a time of silence before I go into A.C.T.S. (adoration, confession, thanksgiving and supplication). Being still and waiting on Him. This takes a lot of practice; at least it did for me. One thing that really helped in this process was about four years ago I went on a Refreshing the Heart Retreat. This is a 24 hour get away that focuses on prayer with other women in ministry and has an element of complete silence before the Lord. At first I didn’t really think that I could complete the time of silence. I recall coming to the end of the hour and thinking “What! It’s over!?” This was totally unnatural for me but the blessing and time with God really impressed on me the need to continue. As a leader and as a believer the retreats have helped me focus on my Savior in a way that I wasn’t doing at home. For me waiting and the practice of silence is part of the blessing of prayer. I must still myself, my mind, body, spirit and wait on the Lord. It is not what I get from the Lord it is that I get the Lord.
To spend time with the Lord may at first seem like a luxury especially if you don’t believe you have time to spare. Start small and build on the time you do have. I am sure you will find after a few dates with Jesus that rather than just being a luxury the time spent will become a joyful necessity.
Blessings,
Tresa Myers
Refreshing the Heart Prayer Retreat Coordinator