51% of all Americans are now single. So I feel justified in addressing this particular group today.
In I Corinthians, Paul says to some early Christians that just as married people should not try to become single, singles should not try to become married if they were single when they came to Christ. Obviously, this is not meant as anti-marriage, but pro-singleness.
Because I don't have a husband and children to worry about, I can pray at virtually any time I don't have to be somewhere else. Being single doesn't mean you have to lead a life of self-indulgence like too many people do today. Being single gives you more time to read your Bible, fast, and pray.
Married people may have more opportunity to be conformed to the image of Jesus, but we have more opportunities to become prayer warriors. If you live alone, try turning off your TV and spend at least an hour a day in Scripture reading and prayer!
Showing posts with label early rising. Show all posts
Showing posts with label early rising. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Group Prayer, Anyone?
Since today is a Sunday, group prayer seems like a good topic.
With the prayer closet, you only have yourself, God, and the spirit world as your listeners. With group prayer you have other humans listening in, and adding their own silent prayers to yours.
If you are the listener, you should do your best to follow along and add your own silent thoughts and affirmations to the prayer being spoken. An occasional "Amen!" or "Yes, Lord," can be added out loud, but excessive amounts of that can be distracting and detract from the prayer being said. You might ask yourself whether or not (only God and you know) you are adding such phrases to glorify God and edify fellow worshippers or show off how spiritual you are.
I will address the topic of saying a group prayer out loud in the next post.
With the prayer closet, you only have yourself, God, and the spirit world as your listeners. With group prayer you have other humans listening in, and adding their own silent prayers to yours.
If you are the listener, you should do your best to follow along and add your own silent thoughts and affirmations to the prayer being spoken. An occasional "Amen!" or "Yes, Lord," can be added out loud, but excessive amounts of that can be distracting and detract from the prayer being said. You might ask yourself whether or not (only God and you know) you are adding such phrases to glorify God and edify fellow worshippers or show off how spiritual you are.
I will address the topic of saying a group prayer out loud in the next post.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Take time to be Holy
"But I'm not a morning person," I can hear you protest.
Go to bed one hour earlier. If at first you can't sleep at that time, you'll simply adapt the way you do during daylight savings time. Then you will have an extra hour each morning before your spouse and children get up to pray, read the Bible, and meditate.
If you go to work at 8:00 and it takes half an hour to drive to work, an hour to perform hygiene, eat breakfast and get the kids ready, and you still want to take an hour to pray (don't forget your early morning walkf for half an hour!) you need to rise at 5:00 at the latest.
Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. As for me, I would prefer to exercise later in the day and sleep till 5:15, then make myself some coffee before I start reading my Bible and praying.
Go to bed one hour earlier. If at first you can't sleep at that time, you'll simply adapt the way you do during daylight savings time. Then you will have an extra hour each morning before your spouse and children get up to pray, read the Bible, and meditate.
If you go to work at 8:00 and it takes half an hour to drive to work, an hour to perform hygiene, eat breakfast and get the kids ready, and you still want to take an hour to pray (don't forget your early morning walkf for half an hour!) you need to rise at 5:00 at the latest.
Hmmm. Decisions, decisions. As for me, I would prefer to exercise later in the day and sleep till 5:15, then make myself some coffee before I start reading my Bible and praying.
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