I don’t know about you, but when it comes to getting things done, it seems that only the things that I’ve made a part of my daily routine, or the items and meetings that are scheduled into my outlook actually happen. Everything else is hit or miss.

I often wondered if we get so busy with all of life that we actually blow off one of the most important aspects of Christianity. I know I’m not the only person that prays, and surely there are others who would admit that it is a challenge on a regular basis to stop everything, get quiet and listen to the heart of God through scripture meditation and communicate with the Lord as a child to his father. Prayer really should be that simple.

When you study the early church, it tells us in Acts 2:42 that there were four things that were at the top of their lists. Their priorities were centered around the Word of God, fellowship with one another, breaking of bread (including but not limited to the Lord’s Supper) and prayer.

I believe for the most part we see a priority placed on the Word of God in our churches, and I think it’s safe to say that fellowship is one of those things that doesn’t even have to be on the calendar to happen. Breaking bread, cooking out and sharing meals is another one that seems to take very little recruiting and always draws record crowds. But, when it comes to prayer, especially “prayer meetings”, you might as well advertise that you are going to be stacking rocks. Granted, I have been to some prayer gatherings that seemed like rock stacking. But why is it that we are so reluctant to spend time communicating and communing with the lover of our souls?

Is it possible that we have become too busy to pray? When prayer is no longer a priority for believers, it speaks volumes about our dependence on our selves and consequently our lack of dependence on the Lord.

Take time to talk to the Lord today…  He is listening.
The Lord is near to all who call on Him, all who call on Him in truth.
 Psalm 145:18

Greg Richards is Sr. Pastor of Life Church in Kaufman.
 Visit www. yourlifechurch.com for more info.