The Time Is Now - Developing A Lifestyle Of Prayer

unbelieving friends or family members. Enjoy thinking about the prospect of God's answers.

The Next Step As you take the next step in "1\venty Steps to Daily Prayer" �)age 147) allow yourself a spe­ cial emphasis on prayer for people throughout the week.

Memory Passage

"Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful."

-Colossians 4:2

Going Further and Deeper

Does Repetition Seem Mechanical? It's only human to find a request fading into meaninglessness as we repeat it over and over. But Scripture teaches us to pray persistently and importunately. This is the type of prayer Jesus advocated (Luke 11:5-10, 18:1-8). Is it possible to obey such instruction and, at the same time, to keep repetition from becoming meaningless drudge1y? Yes, we can learn to pray with meaningful repetition. After all, isn't a married person or a parent able to tell his spouse or child "I love you" with meaning, time after time, day after day, for years on end? Of course, for some, even this phrase can lose its meaning, but there are millions of marriages and families who are living proof that the phrase can sustain meaning through thousands of repetitions. So, how do we keep repetitious prayers meaningful? First, commit to puqiosefully engage your mind and heart in your prayers every time you pray. Ask God to keep your mind from wandering and to keep your heart fervently involved in the words you speak to Him. Then even the most repeated requests can sustain their significance in your mind. Second, watch for God's answers to your requests--especially those you repeat most often. This will help you believe more strongly in the power and willingness of God to answer your repeated requests, and so you will pray them with greater faith. Third, work at remaining aware of spiritual realities. Remind yourself often of the true spiritual danger from the evil one and his demonic army. Meditate on the existence, power, love, and wisdom of God, who hears and answers your prayers. Never stop believing in peo­ ple's potential for supernatural growth and impact in the world, as God answers your prayers for them. When we live constantly in a growing awareness of the spiritual world and the spir­ itual battle, all of our requests will take on new significance, and the most repeated requests will become the ones for which we feel the greatest passion.