Day 3
REACH
Reminder: Yesterday we decided to devote 20 minutes a day to prayer for 20 days. Tell the Lord again that you’re resolved, by His grace, to finish the 20 days.
Even though your decision is firm, it’s probably being challenged already. Have you been hit with distractions, temptations, or discouragement? These are common to everyone’s experience.
Our adversary focuses on our past failures. He doesn’t want us praying, so he’ll try to discourage us by reminding us of every failed prayer attempt in the past. Have you felt apprehension, wondering if this Reset might sputter out? Then look at this verse:
But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and REACHING FORWARD to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Phil 3:13-14)
To cultivate a prayer life, reach forward. Look straight ahead, put your eyes on the goal of a habitual prayer life, say a prayer, and reach—with all your heart. Push the delete button on every past failure. Has your quiet time lost momentum in the past? Hit delete. Have you lacked discipline and resolve? Hit delete. Has something persistently hindered you? Hit delete. Determine to forget the things—both positive and negative—that are behind you. By God’s grace, delete it all.
Hit Reset, and reach forward with all your soul. Jesus is helping you to see the kind of prayer life He has for you. He’s enabling you to see it because He knows you won’t reach for something you can’t see.
PRAY. Take a couple minutes and pray from Philippians 3:13-14 (above). Ask your heavenly Father, in Jesus’ name, to help you forget the past and press forward toward the goal of a consistent prayer life.
Asking for mercy is a powerful prayer. What is mercy? It’s the kindness of God to get us going in the right direction—in spite of ourselves. As you reach forward for new momentum in prayer, the mercy of God surrounds and empowers you. Mercy means this time is new!
As you reach for mercy, ponder these verses:
If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O LORD, will hold me up. Ps 94:18)
The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His mercy. (Ps 147:11)
PRAY. Take a few minutes to talk to the Lord about these two verses. If you’ve lost your footing in the past, call out for mercy. Tell Him how much you rely on His help.
Now, thank Him for enabling you to reach for a prayer life that will endure all your days.
“If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23)
Look at this invitation from our Lord Jesus.
You’re not simply reaching for a new prayer habit, you’re reaching for Jesus. You want to see Him, know Him, be close to Him, lay hold of Him. The cross of Jesus has awakened you, and now you’re longing to be filled with His love.
PRAY. Say yes to His call. Tell Him how eagerly you want to come after Him. Talk to Him about Luke 9:23 until your 20 minutes are up.
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me a new start in prayer. I turn my back on all my past failures and reach forward for Your high calling. Increase my desire to pray. Jesus, I’m following You and never looking back. Only forward. Amen.
Have a great day as you hit delete on all that’s behind and reach for more of Him!
RESET: 20 Ways to a Consistent Prayer Life Copyright © 2018 by Bob Sorge Published by Oasis House
Reproduced with permission.
For information on all Bob’s books, go to www.oasishouse.com