Are there ever circumstances, surroundings, or sights that remind you to pray? I don’t mean the general “pray without ceasing” command. I mean the specific prompts that remind you of specific people or that draw you to the Lord in a specific way.
I love those reminders. When I pay attention to them, I feel like David felt when he penned this verse:
When You said, “Seek My face,” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.” Psalm 27:8 (NASB)
This morning, I read the verse the New Living Translation. It might not be as literal, but it certainly tugged at my heart in an intimate way:
My heart has heard You say, “Come and talk with Me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” Psalm 27:8 NLT
You see, I can work through a prayer list any time. The prayer list reminds me to lift up people or seek God out regarding needs. But the Spirit’s nudges and reminders differ greatly from a prayer list. They connect me to the heart of God and to other people in beautiful ways.
For instance, on Wednesday I lost my voice. It happens at least twice a year when allergy symptoms really kick in, so I’m used to it. But it usually happens in March. Not this time. This year it just “happened” to wait until May and fall on the same day a friend’s son was going in for his second cochlear implant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_implant) surgery. No one could hear me on the very day that a young teen was going through a surgery to help him better hear those around him. I consider that a reminder, not a coincidence.
Sometimes it’s a sunrise that simply nudges me to praise. Other times it’s a dream about someone I haven’t seen in years. A delight I’m enjoying might bring to memory a special friend. A struggle can help me identify with someone else who experiences similar struggles. Whatever the case, it goes beyond the prayer list. It connects me to an active, vibrant, “in the moment” relationship with the Holy Spirit and with my brothers and sisters in Christ.
Those little moments are the Lord saying, “Come and talk with Me.”
I would be lying if I said I always responded to those invitations with, “Lord, I am coming.” But I’m learning. The more I respond, the more I notice the invitations. How I love it!
He invites us all. The invitations might look different for you, but they are still there. How will you respond? Join me in saying, “Lord, I am coming!”
Not Quite Ordinary 