Editor’s Note: If you consider prayer a tedious, religious obligation, consider this simple approach by a seasoned prayer warrior and see the difference it can make in your life.
The greatest joy one can know in life is the presence and peace of God. As we open our hearts and spirits to Him, we give Him opportunity to speak to us and to fill us with His joy and peace. The Bible tells us that in His presence “is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11b). Because this is true, our most important appointment each day must be our time alone with God and His Word, a time when He can speak to us and we can speak to Him. Satan, our No. 1 enemy, would rather have us do anything than keep this appointment. So we must ask and receive God’s help in order to be faithful on a daily basis.
When we leave the place alone with God, we can continue to walk through the day in an attitude of prayer, in much the same way in much the same way as two sweethearts, when they part, remain in each other’s thoughts. If our minds are stayed on Him, we can know His peace all day, as Isaiah 26:3 promises: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” When we become distracted, we simply refocus our thoughts as soon as we are aware that they have turned from Him.
As unexpected emergencies arise during our busy days, we can immediately send up what Corrie Ten Boom called arrow prayers—targeted prayers for specific needs. We place our concerns in His hands and continue to walk in His peace. As Christians, our normal mode of operation should be to cast “all [our] care upon Him, because He cares for [us]” (1 Pet. 5:7).
If you’ve made prayer into a difficult task, considered it simply a religious obligation or felt it was too complicated to engage in, why not try this simple approach today? Ask the Lord to help your life to be a prayer as you seek to keep a daily appointment with Him, walk in an attitude of prayer and send arrow prayers to him as each need arises.
Prayer Power for the Week of March 12, 2017
Keep a daily appointment with God this week. Put aside everything else and focus on Him and His Word. Bring all your cares to Him. Thank Him for His goodness and faithfulness in spite of the circumstances surrounding our lives, our nation, and the world. Continue to pray for the persecuted church and for open doors to advance His kingdom. Remember those God has placed in authority over us. Pray for unity in the body of Christ, healing for the nation and revival for the world (1 Tim. 2:1-3; Heb. 4:16). {eoa}
Bill Wiese 
Paul McGuire 
