READING: Ecclesiastes 1-7, Galatians 3:1-4:7
I wonder how many times I’ve been hasty in prayer – not ignoring or neglecting prayer, but quickly telling God my concerns without first honoring Him, or immediately letting God know how He needs to handle my concern. I realize our emotions and burdens sometimes compel us to cry out to the Lord with great passion, but I also recognize we sometimes approach God as if we are there to tell Him what to do. Somehow, we carelessly assume the rightness of our words (or, even the number of them) will automatically move God.
Solomon, though reminds us of a truth that ought to govern all we do in prayer: “God is in heaven and you are on earth” (Ecc 5:2). Though God is intimately related to His followers, there is also a vast difference between Him and us. He is God, and we are not. He rules, and we don’t. He is the judge, and we’re the judged. To approach Him flippantly, hastily, or irreverently is to miss who He is.
The better route, according to Solomon, is to let our words be few when we pray. It never hurts us just to sit in the presence of God, meditate on His glory, seek His will, listen to His Word and His Spirit . . . and speak less.
PRAYER: “Father, slow me down today to focus on You. Let my heart be attentive but my words be few.”
DAILY ACTION STEP: When you pray today, don’t be impulsive. Slow down, and listen, too.
TOMORROW’S READING: Ecclesiastes 8-12, Galatians 4:8-5:15