Commit to a Lifestyle of Prayer

When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.
Matthew 6:6, CEV

God has given you the ability to hear from Him. To be strong, you have to let Him pour Himself into you right now, this morning. It cannot just be today; it has to be your lifestyle. It has to be so common that even your own family living with you would say the same thing about you that was said about Jesus: “He always got up and went somewhere to be alone and pray.”

If somebody saw everything that you did, he would see your lifestyle habits. He would see that you always sneak away and find God. Some days you have to be desperate to accomplish it.

When I was going to college, I had roommates. I had to get up very quietly and sneak out of the room, because I didn’t want to wake anybody up. I didn’t want anyone to know that I was praying. I wanted to get the reward that only the Father could give. I just wanted to go off and get more of God in my life. I would stay out late at night just praying and walking around campus and looking at the stars. I wanted so much to hear the voice of God and know His heart and His ways.

Seeking God is like a hungering and a yearning from the bottom of your soul. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 6:5). If you feel empty, you need to hunger and thirst for righteousness as you get up and have your quiet time. Cultivate a longing and a yearning for more of God, for purity, for life. Desire to hear His voice so big that He begins to fill you with more and more of Himself.

Too many Christians are empty. They have prayed, but they’re empty because they’re not hungering and thirsting for righteousness. As you seek God in your quiet times, you need to be hungry. Open up your Bible and say, “God, feed me today.” As you read His Word, He will begin to fill you, and your life will get richer and fuller than you ever imagined possible.

I present to you a challenge this week. If you truly want to change the world, keep your relationship with Jesus alive. Cut off the dead, old, petrified nonrelationship you’ve had until now. Commit to having a living, exciting time with Jesus every day.

Take some time to journal about the commitment you have made to have your quiet times daily and to pursue after the Lord. This is not just an easy decision, but rather something that you will have to work hard at. Ask the Lord to give you the dedication and strength you need to fulfill your commitment to Him.

This article was adapted from Ron Luce’s latest book Connecting With God.