I have a sign on my office bulletin board that states, “Sit in silence for ten minutes every day.” It is not as easy as it sounds; however, silence is an important discipline to cultivate in one’s journey towards Christ-likeness. I wish I could say I was good at practicing this discipline, but it is my goal to eventually get to the place where the exercise of silence strengthens my ability to be attentive to God as I go about my normal everyday activities.

Ten minutes isn’t a very long time, but it seems eternity when there is much to do and many things on my mind. Yet, the discipline of silence, if nurtured well, will result in a deeper knowing of the heart of God. How can God speak to me if I am always talking…or otherwise engaged? If I make room for Him to speak, perhaps my doing and thinking will be more kingdom-focused, and my prayers more intent upon and aligned with God’s heart. And, hopefully my activity following silence will be filled with obedient, Christ-like pursuits. Silence is not easy in our noisy culture; however, as Henri Nouwen states, “I have never met anyone seriously interested in the spiritual life who did not have a growing desire for silence.”

In the spiritual discipline of silence, we create space for God to speak. How we engage God in this time can be in a variety of ways; however, I will touch on two. First, we can wait silently for God to speak directly to us…with an expectation that He will give us a word or a revelation regarding some clarity that is needed or if there is something we have been struggling with, such as a choice that needs to be made. It is a time of intentional listening for the purpose of discerning the voice of the Father. I often use the words of young Samuel, who said, “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.” Patient waiting is involved in this form of silence. It can be hard work, but as Nouwen wrote, “Silence is the furnace of transformation.”

Secondly, there is a discipline of silence that is simply “keeping company with God.” It isn’t the time to ask questions or express what is on our hearts. If we fill the silence with our thoughts and questions –there is no true silence. In this kind of silent prayer, we can allow ourselves simply to be with God – and that is enough. There is no void because God is present. We are aware of His presence because we are paying attention. Susan Muto stated, “Silence is not to be shunned as empty space, but to be befriended as fertile ground for intimacy with God.”

Jesus, of course, is our prime example of one who waited patiently on God. He stated that He never did or said anything that the Father did not instruct Him to do or say. We know from Scripture that Jesus spent a lot of time in silent prayer – waiting and listening. But we also see our Living Christ moving throughout His day with continual wisdom and grace – He didn’t always need to stop before every healing or word spoken to draw apart for a private exchange with God, for that conversation was always part of Him. He had times of extended solitude with God, but was always attentive to the voice He knew so well no matter what circumstance He found Himself involved in. This is prayer in everyday life. “Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, and also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all” (Psalm 65:1-2 MSG).

If your life is anything like mine, sometimes it seems to be moving at too fast of a pace. There is a great need to breathe and reflect and recapture some moments of peace and a tangible awareness that Emmanuel, God with us, is indeed just that! When life becomes hectic and frantic, there is a great need for an intentional slowing down in order to connect with God more regularly. Even on days when we are more restful and less engaged with activity, it is important to fix our gaze upon God’s face and seek His company.

A rhythm of prayer that helps me to more fully engage the presence of God in every day life is best known as the Prayer of Examen. Although it can be done twice a day, most people find that engaging in this practice before bed is very effective. Examen involves setting aside 10-15 minutes and taking prayerful notice of your entire day. For this to become a holy prayer habit that is sustainable, choose approximately the same time each day and find a place where you can be undisturbed and undistracted. Also, feel free to make this prayer your own in a way that fits your own personality and reflects your own unique relationship with God.

There are basically three simple steps that make up the prayer of Examen:

1. Preparation – take time to still and quiet your soul: “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me” (Psalm 131:2).  Focus your attention completely upon God in this moment: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28).

2. Begin to review your entire day. Give thanks to God for all that He brings to your mind. Ask God to show you two things: “When the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

• Notice when you lived out of love and freedom in Jesus Christ: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence or if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things “ (Philippians 4:8).
• Notice when you did not live out of love and freedom in Jesus: “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40). Spend some time dealing with those things God brings to mind in repentance.

3. Give thanks to God for the opportunity to review the day, and to notice when you did or didn’t live like Jesus. Ask God for guidance and grace for tomorrow: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21).

I suggest keeping a journal and discerning with a mentor or trusted friend what God downloads to your spirit during these short seasons of prayer. As this practice becomes a habit for you, allow yourself the freedom to welcome with gratitude the changes that the Holy Spirit births in you. Stick this out for several days and you will see how the practice grows on you and gives surprising depth to the hours of your days. The Prayer of Examen will likely become a practice you will delight in coming back to over and over again as you pay attention to the movement and presence of God throughout your everyday life.

(c) Harvest Prayer Ministries

“To walk in the presence of the Lord means to move forward in life in such a way that all our desires, thoughts, and actions are constantly guided by him. When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of him. This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence… When we no longer walk in the presence of the Lord, we cannot be living reminders of his divine presence in our lives.” – Henri Nouwen, The Living Reminder

These powerful words describe what the journey of prayer as every day life should be like. Everything is created by, informed by and shaped by the presence of God as “in Him we live, move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). As we walk through each day, He is present in every activity, every thought, and every moment of rest. God’s heart beats within our own and His kingdom purposes are yearning for our attention during the moments when we are forgetful of His continual companionship.

My deepest desire is to integrate the presence of Christ in me throughout my day. I desire that my first and last thoughts each day as well as everything in between would turn to the very present God…our Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There). I was grateful to my pastor this week for preaching on this amazing Name of God. He reminded us that God knows our actions: “you know when I sit and when I rise” (Psalm 139:2), He knows our thoughts: “…you perceive my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2), and He knows our ways: “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3). He knew all of these things before we were even born: “For you created my inmost being and you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). How is it that this amazing God slips our minds – ever?

Yet, even though God’s word says that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), we spend much of our lives doing and thinking and making decisions and plans completely independently of our Father, the One who knows us perfectly – inside and out.

Perhaps all it will take is to develop some godly strategies for remembering and recognizing His presence in our world and in the continual going about our day living. Is it even possible to cultivate never ending prayerfulness? Yes! God created us for this possibility to become reality. His word declares that we are to “pray continually” no matter where we are or what we are experiencing. If we are to be “living reminders” to everyone we connect with day to day, Jesus must ooze from our pores simply because we live, move and have our being in His presence. Here are a few simple strategies to help us live prayerfully in God’s presence:

Cultivate thankfulness for all things created, and for your daily experiences simply by becoming more aware. Develop a heart of gratitude even for things you normally take for granted. If you see loveliness around you, express your thanks to the Father. If you think of a good idea, give God praise for shaping your mind. Perhaps you have an opportunity to speak life or peace or hope into another person. Give the Lord thanks for opening the way for the conversation to take place.

If you or someone you connect with has a need, or if you simply see a need around you, take time to pray in that moment for God to intervene in a life or situation. Remember to be willing for the Holy Spirit to prompt you to meet the very need you just prayed about.

Take time each day to sit in silence. If you could spend ten minutes a day in silence, simply telling God that you want to spend time with Him, enjoying Him, you will begin to experience the truth of Matthew 6:33: “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

You will likely be able to think of many other ways to cultivate a prayerful “knowing” that God is continually present with you. As we foster our awareness of Jehovah Shammah through all of our senses and experiences, over time we will begin to encounter a deeper sense of joy and security no matter what comes our way. And, we will become living reminders of the presence of Jesus to all who come into contact with us. May living prayerfully in His presence become a continual reality for our every day lives!

“You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

My husband and I were recently able to spend some time at the ocean…and walking the beach is one of our favorite activities. I feel so connected to God as I look at the vast sea, thunderously breathing in and out. The familiar aroma of the salt-laden air and the pleasurable feeling of sand between my toes remind me how many of my senses are fully engaged in this simple experience. Here is a place where I can pray easily, with an intensity of thankfulness that I almost can’t describe. There is peace and rest in my soul…struggles, deadlines, and other rugged places in my life seem to get pulled with the tide out into the vastness to disappear in the depths. The ocean is also a spiritually relevant location to deposit my sinfulness, as the Father casts it into the sea of forgetfulness (Micah 7:19). No wonder I am energized and revitalized after spending time seeking the Presence of God in such a place.

When I got on the plane to come home, I asked God to help me re-create this physical place (the ocean) into a spiritual place…a meeting place with the Father that isn’t dependent upon where my body is located, but where my mind and heart are locked into His embrace. God has gifted His people with many key ways to place ourselves in His presence. And, incredibly, each means of connectivity with the Father’s heart is still intricately woven together into the Spirit-filled life of prayer. Wherever we are located, God is still fully present to us as we turn our attention upon Him.

My tent of meeting with God doesn’t need to be located on the beach, or in a retreat center…or in community with others in a worship service…although all of these are good places and are certainly necessary from time to time for seasons of refreshing. However, the ordinary and mundane places in life can be turned into the extraordinary and the holy as I shift my gaze from a place to a Person. God can sanctify my imagination…setting it apart for heart to heart communion. I can envision the ocean my Father created for my pleasure and His purposes with the eyes of my soul…and He turns His gaze upon me as I seek Him (Jeremiah 29:13). The Creator is present continually in my heart whether or not I am aware of His nearness.

Try locating your heart to the place you wish to meet with God, even if you are in a place you would rather not be. If we are continually wishing we were in a physical location that allows us the space and quiet and peace to meet with God…there may be huge gaps in our awareness of His Presence. Our prayer life suffers when we wait for the right time or the right location. Realize now that you can meet with Him as you care for an elderly parent, find yourself in traffic on the way to work, or even as you go about your normal everyday routine. God is…wherever you are. His gaze is always upon you, and His ear is always attentive to your prayers.

(c) 2013 Prayer Connect Magazine

Andrew Murray stated, “When God gives the Holy Spirit, His great object is the formation of a holy character. It is a gift of a holy mind and spiritual disposition, and what we need above everything else is to say: ‘I must have the Holy Spirit sanctifying my whole inner life if I am really to live for God’s glory.’”

Every morning my prayer is, “Father, show me how to be more like Jesus Christ today so that You will be glorified!” Knowing that every day I will fall short of this goal, I take joy in the smallest victories to this end! My flesh loves to be in control, and stubbornly clings to sinful things like anxiety and pride. However, God’s word faithfully restores my confidence in His ability to transform my heart and life day by day.

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the voice of Christ within me speaks. Moment by moment in my every day ordinary life, I must bring my sinful thoughts, actions and words to Him as quickly as they arise so that gradually they will give way to His thoughts, actions and words.  I pray to be less, even though everything prideful in me seeks attention and recognition. This is not an easy struggle, but growing up in Christ is a narrow path strewn with worldly distractions and insidious idolatry that sets itself up against the transformational work of God. It is a battle that can only be won in the spiritual realm – not by my own determination and desire.

Without dying to my flesh, the formation of this holy character cannot be made manifest in me. Paul recognized that God’s children are susceptible to the deception of darkness without complete faith and trust in the One who created us and knows us best. Therefore, in his letter to “God’s holy people” in the city of Colosse, he shares a powerful prayer that, prayed for our lives and the lives of others, will transform us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ:

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12).

There is much to be gleaned from the purposes of Paul’s prayer for our every day lives. How we, God’s people, need to be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. So often we struggle in the flesh to know the will of God, yet do we ever ask to be filled with the knowledge of His will? What a powerful prayer request! “Father, fill me with the knowledge of Your will for my life through all spiritual wisdom and understanding!”

Still, it is important to recognize that the term “spiritual wisdom” has often become twisted in our culture. Not everything with this label is Christian in nature. We must be vigilant to ask the Father to fill us, and those for whom we are interceding, with Holy Spirit wisdom through the very mind of Christ, so that we may have a clear and perfect understanding of His will for us!  The result? We and others for whom we pray will begin to live lives worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way by bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all power according to the glorious might of God! Here we will begin to see the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit moving within and throughout our day to day lives. Is there anyone who would not want such a prayer of blessing and power?

Paul prays for the believers to be strengthened so that they might have great endurance and patience to withstand whatever struggles, trials or persecutions might come and so that they might be enabled to joyfully give thanks to God in the midst of their day to day lives – whatever may come! I am eager to give thanks to the Father when I am comfortable and life is going well; however, only His supernatural strength upholds my joy when that is not the case! How many do you know who need the courage of God in their lives right now to endure a trial? Maybe you need that in your own life. Isn’t it a powerful encouragement to see those saints who are able to live in full joy and confidence in the midst of pain or difficulty? Today, as we face the distinct likelihood of the end of days and the potential suffering that may take place, we must be prepared to endure with the strength of the Spirit, and to live out holy and victorious lives in the midst of it. Pray that God will give you and other believers such strength, so that we may joyfully give thanks to God, who has qualified us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.”

The way of holiness is to walk in the way of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pray the powerful word of God into our everyday lives, and crucify our fleshly desires to lean into the desires of our Father, we will live more fully within the kingdom of His light. We will know the will of God for our lives, and please Him in every way. We will be given His strength and be sustained by joy and thanksgiving! May the formation of a holy character continue in us all for the glory of God!

(C) 2013 Prayer Connect