Time to Pray

There have been times in my life when I have struggled with prayer. I struggled in the sense that I did not make time to pray in my everyday routine. Without question, a big reason for my struggle was selfishness.

In college, I had to make time for my studies. I was preparing myself to be a preacher after all. I also had to make time for my friends. Obviously, I had to see the sports report every day on TV. And I enjoyed reading a TIME or SPORTS ILLUSTRATED when I got the chance. When I was in student government, there were meetings to attend. There were also spiritual activities: church, daily chapel, Tuesday night devo... Many times I found myself doing no more than beginning a prayer as I lay down at night. Usually I fell asleep before finishing it.

Finally, I graduated from college. But guess what? I was still too busy to pray. A few years later, I moved to a foreign country to do mission work—still too busy to pray.

Finally, I had to get real. What I had was not a time problem. What I had was a priority problem. I had about 163 things that I wanted to do before I prayed. The issue was not that I needed more hours, more minutes, or more seconds in my day. The issue was that I needed more Jesus and less Mark in my day.

Today, spending time in prayer is still a battle. I often reflect upon the absurdity of that reality.

Think about it. When I spend little time praying in a given day, what am I saying? I’m saying with my attitude, “Excuse me, God. But I think I can make it on my own today. I’ll call you when I need you.”

I’m saying, “No offense God. But today, ‘Good Morning America,’ ‘The Dallas Morning News,’ five telephone calls, two appointments, two ham and cheese sandwiches, one ten minute nap, two hours of research, two more appointments, time with two of my kids, two phone calls, one visit with a neighbor, a conversation with my wife, playing with another child, putting my children to bed, and reading from a good book are more important to me than spending time talking with you.”

Take what I just said and apply it to couples and marriage. I know of too many couples that divorced because they allowed an aggregation of little things to prevent them from spending time with their mates. What is it about taking such a relatively minute portion of our day to talk with God that makes it so difficult for us?

I think one reason is that the god of this world has so much power. Satan has tremendous resources, one of which is our nature, which is predisposed to sin.

Another thing that Satan has going for him is that he is one of the most humble beings on this planet. Much more humble than we are. He doesn’t care if we realize we are serving him. What matters to him is that he’s got us. And if we are living to please ourselves, he’s got us.

Can you imagine if I treated one of my four kids like I do God? What if the standard that determined if I fed my kids was the same as the standard I have that determines when I pray—personal desire.

“What sweetie? You haven’t eaten all night? You want some breakfast? Well I’m watching ‘Good Morning America’ right now. How about after it’s over?”

After ‘Good Morning America’ is over: “What sweetie? You’re hungry. Well I’m reading the paper right now. How about if I get you some later?”

We have a name for parents whose quality of treatment for their children is based upon personal desire—child abusers. Obviously, a parent does not determine the feeding of a child based on what is personally most satisfying for himself. The fulfillment of the physical and nutritional needs of a child is based on a commitment. Personal desires and conveniences cannot be the priority.

I wish we took the nutrition of our spiritual needs as seriously.

             A good prayer life is a decision. It is not based upon when we want to do it. It is not even based upon when we feel like doing it. It is based upon a decision by our minds, by that special place called the will.

Five Things I Think I Think (with a nod to Peter King for this idea)

1. What an exceptional TV Special by Diane Sawyer on the just released tapes of Jacqueline Kennedy. If you have not read about it, Caroline Kennedy recently released the audio tape recordings of interviews that historian Arthur Schlesinger conducted in early 1964. Having read many historical works on the Kennedys, I heard some insights I had never read. Very well done.

2. Just finished an audio book for the second time—BABE by Robert Creamer. It is a biography of Babe Ruth. Scratch that—it remains THE biography of Babe Ruth.

3. Next movie, see WARRIOR. I am not a fan of UFC fighting (although people occasionally confuse me for a UFC fighter), but this film is not about UFC. It is about family, including a dysfunctional family, and it is about people. UFC is the tool to tell the story. Mark my words; Nick Nolte will win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His portrayal of an alcoholic father is perfect. I especially love the added detail of his character listening to tapes of the book MOBY DICK. You will appreciate this movie.

4. I owe the Dallas Cowboys an apology. I pronounced them dead last night to my church. Season over, I said. Afterwards, one of our elders gave me the news—the Cowboys’ pulled it out and Romo’s a hero. Okay, rumors of the Cowboys’ death are exaggerated. Time will tell if the exaggeration was great.

5. Happy 78^th birthday today, Martha Edge. Much love to you.