Today I woke up and I felt like my head was about to explode. Ever have one of those days?
With one day left before our annual President’s Banquet, a big gala dinner event where we present the past year’s happenings of our ministry to supporters, it also means I am swamped with work. Lots of it.
In between racing to meet deadlines, getting videos edited, prepping for the event and managing other details including an open mic night fundraiser the day after the banquet, my demeanor is nothing short of looking like a chicken running around with it’s head cut off. (Yes, very appealing I know).
I am currently so pressed for time, that I found myself being slightly disgruntled today at having to pause and attend our weekly prayer time with my media team. Silently complaining to God in the prayer room, a soft but quiet word impressed itself upon me. “Pray…”
What?!
“God, come on, I’ve got all these things to do, surely you can understand if I don’t sit through the full hour today…”
“Pray…”
“Fine…”
So I did. And just like that, peace came.
You are never too busy to pray
I almost fell into a trap today. I almost got too busy to pray. And if I hadn’t prayed, I assure you I would have set myself up for disaster. See, here’s the thing. I think a lot of us assume that praying is a passive thing, something that equates to doing nothing of consequence, sitting in a corner talking to an unseen spirit.
But is it? What if prayer is really a time of refocusing? Of stepping back, looking at the big picture and allowing for a much smarter person i.e. God to tell you what step to take. Maybe God wants to help us, and He can’t if we don’t ask Him. Perhaps this is why the Bible says to “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” (Matt 6:33)
God is in the details. So in everything we do, we should consult Him first.
Prayer brings peace
I don’t always understand everything that’s going on around me. But one thing I do know is that I do a much better job of getting things done if I am focused and calm, instead of anxious, stressed and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Does prayer necessarily give you answers immediately all the time? No. But one thing it can do, as it did for me today, is to give you the peace and strength to continue to persevere and get things done.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil 4:6-7) Prayer sometimes is not about answers, but rather getting reminded that God is with us through it all, and in that we can find peace and hope.
Take a moment
So the day’s not over yet, and I’ve still got a bunch of things to complete within the next 24 hours before the banquet. Will I still have to scramble a bit? Perhaps. But am I in a total frenzy about it now? Not anymore. And I’ll tell you, it’s because I took a moment that I thought I didn’t have, to pray a prayer I didn’t think would make much of a difference. Only it did.
Today, tomorrow or next week, you might find yourself in a flurry of tasks and events that are flying in your face. But I encourage you to take a moment and pray. You wouldn’t believe the difference a simple prayer could make.