BYM ONLINE DESK Blessing Oct 2019 English Emagazine | Page 4

future for prayer. When fear jabs at your spirit be
alert. The devil is trying to pour cold water on your
prayer life. Wake up! Never give up. God
understands our fears and wants us to know, no
matter what happens in our life and ministry, He is
with us. When we believe in His power fear has no
hold on us.
Another temptation for Nehemiah to become
slack in his prayer life was overwork. He was
juggling too many problems at once - The wall to
be built, the enemies to be tackled, internal
problems to be settled, finance to be calculated...
Head full of problems. Yet, he never forgot the
power of prayer. His spirit touched the national
psyche and people fasted and prayed (9:1). Only
the one who is alert to pray can kindle a spirit of
prayer in others.
The commonest cause that people give to
relax their prayer schedule is that it is robbed by
some other work. In our never-ending rush to get
something or somewhere, it seems we don't have
time any more for this most basic Christian
discipline. Often our day is packed with activities
sans prayer. Beware! Soon we will learn to do
everything, even God's work without prayer. By
the time we realize it, we will be far too gone to
retrace our steps. Unless you are smart enough to
recognise the shadow of satan falling on your
works, you will be lulled into believing that even
without prayer things will be as great as ever. You
keep slogging not realizing there's a hole in your
bucket. It's like walking on a treadmill; you work
hard without moving forward.
Don't accept overwork as unavoidable. First
believe that it is avoidable and start out to find the
solution. What work can you delegate? What work
is not necessary? What work can be simplified?
What work can be postponed? Fix your prayer time
and be sure to unplug from the rest of the world.
That's what Jesus did. If over-work is making you
too sleepy to pray, make it a point to get sufficient
sleep in the night. Avoid long working hours in the
night. Apportion time for prayer. Surprisingly, you
will find that you finish your work earlier and
simpler than expected. Power naps for 15-20
minutes help you recharge easily.
An important factor that deviates our
attention in prayer is mental indiscipline.
Sweeping this issue under the carpet is not a
solution. Let's address it.
The devil showed all the kingdoms of the
world in a jiffy to Jesus. I suppose, as He was on
His knees, the devil hijacked His mind to wander
through the possibility of enjoying the world's
pleasure. He had to quickly arrest His thoughts and
say an emphatic “No” to the devil. Was He not flesh
and blood like us? Does not the devil do the same to
us when we kneel down in earnest desire and
alertness? Within a few moments our mind
wanders .
What distracts our mind? It could be sexual
thoughts, thoughts about exam and future, bank
balance, business, tomorrow's cooking or a pot
pourri of other things. By the time we realize we are
praying, a few minutes have been snatched away
by satan. We may even doze off. The disciples were
unable to keep watch with Jesus because of
“sorrow” (Lk 22:45). Jesus was also steeped in
sorrow but was alert in prayer (Mt 26:38).
What do we do then to be mentally alert in
prayer? First, make it a special point of prayer. God
alone can help us keep our thoughts under control.
It is no easy job because we do not see God when
we talk to Him. But God answers our prayers.
Choose a time when you will be bright for prayer,
when you are alone; though during busy hours you
can make short prayers like Nehemiah. Praying
aloud helps concentration (Heb 5:7). Having a
prayer diary spread out before you, or the
newspaper, focuses your mind on what you are
doing. Having a prayer partner also helps.
Loading yourself heavily with food and drink
will divert your blood to the alimentary system
rather than the brain. So you'll feel dull and drowsy.
So avoid heavy food anytime. This is why fasting
helps us to be alert in prayer. So, fast as often as you
can.
It is when we are alert and sincere in prayer
that God speaks to us and we hear God's voice.
“God put into my heart” says Nehemiah (7:5).
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