Prayer Is Spontaneous

Just yesterday, we talked about planning times to pray, how prayer needs to be a discipline, how prayer should be deliberate. But that’s only part of the picture. Actually, God is open to us praying all the time. Actually that’s just what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5. He says, “Pray without ceasing,” or “Pray at all times.”

Some people have gotten the idea that they have to be in a certain place or have their hands folded and eyes closed—that prayer has to be a formal thing with some rituals or ceremonies. But prayer doesn’t have to be restricted to your prayer time in the morning or your scheduled prayer times. Instead, you can pray at any time of the day. And prayers don’t have to be fancy or full of pretty words or the right sayings. They can be short and to the point. Sometimes you just pray “Lord, help me!”

Part of the joy of praying is that we can always be in contact with our heavenly Father. No matter what’s going on around us, we can be talking with him, sharing our day with him and inviting him into whatever it is that we’re doing. We can pray at the slightest prompting without any worry over formalities or occasion.

Pray with me. Father, thanks that you’re always prepared to hear from your children. Thanks that no matter what time of the day or what we’re doing that we can talk to you, that we can ask you for help and guidance. Thank you that you’re always there for us. Lord, we pray that you would help us to pray throughout the day, to keep our minds open to you. Move us by your Spirit and encourage our hearts to be open to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.