Don't breathe a word of this to the top brass at the Southern Baptist Church I attend, but Muslims have one tradition that perhaps Christians would be wise to emulate. Prayers throughout the day. Perhaps not simultaneous, facing-the-qibla, work-stopping prayer, but prayer none-the-less.
Paul tells us to "pray without ceasing". 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Throughout the day, many Christians will utter a quick, open-eyed prayer about a particular situation at work, a calming prayer in traffic, or a guidance prayer for a quick decision. But what if we took a page from a Muslim playbook and actually went into our office or closed-door classroom or our car and took 3-5 minutes of concerted, focused time alone with God two to three times each day?
Prayers of praise or confession. Prayers for peace, guidance or wisdom. These would not replace the "prayer without ceasing" prayers, but add an additional dimension to our daily walk with God.
The Pew Research Center recently reported that 91% of American adults have a cell phone and 56% of American adults have smart phones.* All smart phones and the majority of other cell phones allow the user to set multiple alarms. Since we don't live in a society that sounds a public prayer horn use modern technology to be your individual prayer horn.
Find some times (even if it is just a short part of your lunch break) to draw the shades, silence the cell phone, put the computer to sleep, and "Be still and know that (He) is God." Psalm 46:10 Jesus took time alone with God during his work day. Luke 6:12 Luke 11:1 Let's follow his example.
*http://pewinternet.org/Commentary/2012/February/Pew-Internet-Mobile.aspx
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