What Should I do during my prayertime and How long should it be? (Part One)

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Hello! I hope that you are feeling refreshed and ready to learn even more about how to grow in intimacy with Christ though having a daily prayertime. If you did not read yesterday’s post be sure to check it out here. Today we are going to discuss part one of what to do during a prayertime, when to have it, and how long it should be.  One of the questions I get often in ministry is “when should I have my prayer time?” To be honest, the best time to have your prayertime is definitely first thing in the morning, however, if that does not work for you, that is okay too. The reason it is beneficial to have your prayer time first thing in the morning, is because one of the benefits of having a prayertime is guidance. Certainly, the best time to get guidance for your day is in the morning, before your day begins! I would encourage each of you to have your prayertime in the morning.  In Psalm 57:8 and Psalm 63:1 the Psalmist David discussed how he met with God early in the morning. God delights in being your first thing.

With that said, I don’t want any of you to become legalistic about your prayertime experience. Like I said in the last post, having a prayertime is all about building relationship. God created you and He knows you. He understands your schedule, He knows if you work, parent, go to school, etc. He gets it, and he wants you to steward your responsibilities well. So he understands when you have prayertime seasons that are shorter, at night, or while partaking in other activities (working out, showering, etc.) There are some days when I have not had the opportunity to spend time praying or reading my word and I will bring God with me on my workout, by praying as I exercise and listening to worship, a teaching tape or the Bible on Audio. If you desperately want to have a prayertime but are short on time in the morning, spend time praying in the shower or listening to a podcast or Bible on audio while you get dressed. You can even pray during your morning commute. Though God is amazing and flexible, do remember that true intimacy will only occur if you also mix in quality time designated for him. Imagine if you tried to build a relationship with someone, but only talked to them as drove to work or went for a run. Though you could get to know them, after a while the building of intimacy would cease to exist unless you begin to spend quality, focused, alone time with that person.

Heart Check

·         How often do you have your prayer time first thing in the morning?

·         If you do not have it first thing in the morning, what keeps you from doing so?

·         How would you rate your “quality” time with God?

·         Are there ways in which you could increase your quality time with God?

The Good-Hard Year

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This has been a good-hard year.

I never thought I could put together the words "good" and "hard" when thinking about a single season of my life, but as I look over 2015, this has been one of the best, most challenging years I have ever lived through. I've faced a few fears, battled illness, and had to learn how to lean on God when I was experiencing  loss and disappointment. Through a series of events, the end of 2014 and the first quarter of 2015 left me feeling tentative, afraid and timid. But I also felt victorious. During that six month period I jumped a few really tall hurdles. I experienced persecution and un-surety on every side. But, I made it through those situations and even though they left me with a few battle scars I figured the worst of it was over.

I was wrong.

Moving into the summer of this year, my father had a health scare with his heart. Through much prayer and a little medication his heart returned to normal. I too was facing health problems and received some scary news regarding my health. Also, around this time I was in the process of looking for a new job. To know me is to know that I never have a hard time finding jobs. In fact, I'm such a job magnet that I've gotten a couple of jobs without having to apply. I had recently started my business and I knew I wanted to continue working on it, but with the safety net of having stable income on the side. When the summer started I had five jobs that I was up for. They looked promising and I was completely qualified. Slowly, one by one, each one fell through- one even falling through two days before I was to start working. To say the least, I was a disappointed, but I simply thought that God wanted to increase my faith. And of course, I figured the worst of it was over.

I was wrong.

This fall I enrolled in my second year as a doctoral student. Though I've worked hard through all of my degrees I've never had as many sleepless nights, shed as many tears, or felt as much pressure as I've felt this semester. My classes have kicked my butt! There were many days I considered dropping down to part time, but each time I went to do so, I could feel the Holy Spirit telling me to halt. Soon after the semester started, my mother had to have two surgeries, which was a scary time for my family. Recently I received some heartbreaking news regarding my doctoral program. I can't share all of the details now, but let's just say that except for the grace of God, the course of my entire program could change and a big academic goal I've been working toward may not be fulfilled.

My year has been tough, but not bad.

Had all of these things happened to me a year ago, I would have been ready to through in the towel. I would have been angry at God. I would have become bitter. One of the beautiful things that has happened in this good-hard year is that God has taught me how to respond like the new woman I am becoming instead of like the old "Myah." I have found myself worshipping God when I felt afraid, running to Him in prayer when I felt uncertain. Not simply because I wanted answers, but because I needed to be in His presence. What I've found during this good-hard year is that when I am in God's presence I am my strongest. I am my most secure. I am my most fearless. I am my most sure.

At the beginning of the year I asked the Lord for more intimacy with Him. I wanted to know His face, I wanted to learn to trust Him. The funny thing about God is that often when He answers our prayers He answers them via experience. He didn't just give me more of His presence, he allowed me to go through difficult situations that caused me to seek His presence. He hasn't just given me more faith, instead He has allowed me to sit in the middle of chaos and trust that He will come through. And if He doesn't, He's teaching me to trust that:

 He is still good (Dan. 3:17-18).



That is just one of the things that this good-hard year has taught me. I'm learning that even when I am in the center of a battle, even when things don't work out like I plan, even when people hurt me, even when I feel disappointed, His presence is there waiting to be sought and HE. IS. STILL. GOOD. This year what I've learned is sometimes you will find yourself sitting in the middle of a hard battle and you have to choose to fight until the battle is won. Half of the battle that you fight, in the midst of the battle you are fighting, is the belief that you are not fighting alone. That's the beauty of the good-hard years, if you allow them, they will show you that you are never fighting alone.

I know that the coming weeks will be a walk of faith for me. I won't allow myself to look much past that time period, but I know that during the next month I will have to praise, worship, pray, and trust like never before. My hope is that everything works out like I planned, but if not... He is still good. He is always good. May we all learn to relish in the beauty of our good-hard years.

XOXO,
Myah

Welcome!

Hey, I'm Myah!

I'm twenty-five years old and I am radically sold out to Christ. I created this blog because, having been saved for fifteen years I've learned first hand how exciting, lonely, amazing and difficult the Christian walk can be. I also know that living life as a young, evangelical Christian in a post-modernist world can be exceptionally challenging. My goal in creating this blog is to:
 1. Obey Christ (as He has impressed it on my heart to start this blog.)
 2. Give love and encouragement to those young radicals who need it.
 3. Provide many resources that will help you grow in your Christian walk.
I'd love to stay in touch and connect so follow me on instagram or shoot me an email if you have any questions.
XOXO,
Myah