Dave’s Monday Blast – August 14, 2023

Pastor Charles Stanley recently went on to be with the Lord. His In Touch Ministries continues to put out great content designed to encourage all of us to Live According to His Word. He comments: “In a healthy spiritual life, self-evaluation is important. It can even be exciting, if we’re willing to be honest with ourselves and welcome the tender compassionate guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our prayer life is a good opportunity for this”.

My friends, how would you describe your personal prayer life? For some, the answer is simple and short: “Nonexistent.” Sadly, a lot of believers don’t spend much time, if any talking with God. I don’t mean praying on the run. Offering up quick requests as you go about your day is part of a serious prayer life, but far from all it is meant to be. If I am being honest I confess that my prayer life often fits the quick requests on the run.

Stanley comments: “The kind of prayer I’m talking about is an uninterrupted period of time together, just you and the Lord. No distractions, no other people. And not because you need something, but because you love Him and want to be with Him”. As a part of daily self-evaluation ask the following: Do I have this type of prayer life with God? And if so, how often? If not, why not? We know that when Jesus was on this earth, He placed enormous importance on this kind of prayer. Scripture indicates He often went off alone somewhere to talk to His Father. He prayed when He had decisions to make, when He was tired, and when He was anguished. If prayer was this vital to Jesus, who was God, imagine how important it is for us.

Men of INTENTION know that spending private time with the Lord will refresh and empower you supernaturally. “Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary” (Isaiah 40:31). When was the last time you did not feel weary? I know for a fact that an ineffective prayer life leads to a weary soul.

Pastor Stanley believed loving and serving God WELL are possible only if we’re growing in prayer. Next week we will hear from him as he explains the essential elements of a serious and fulfilling prayer life.