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Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries I recall being especially imaginative as a child. In first grade, my best friend and I had an imaginary “office” in the big magnolia tree in our front yard. She would dictate imaginary letters while I would write with a stick on the leaves of the trees. We conducted all kinds of imaginary business. In the fourth grade, another friend and I spent hours taking turns telling a never-ending story to one another. As I grew towards adulthood, I used my imagination less for amusement and more for specific purposes in life. For example, how many of us have counted imaginary sheep to fall asleep, or imagined that we were standing on top of the podium to give ourselves confidence before a big competition? Until a few years ago, I never thought to bring my imagination into my prayer life. A professor in one of my graduate courses gave me a new perspective on this by sharing that God created  all  of me, including my imagination. Just as I am to be holy and set apart for God, so should my imagination also be holy and set apart; consecrated for God’s pleasure and purposes. It occurred to me that my imagination should therefore be a part of the day to day living out of my spiritual life. An Anglican brother in the Society of St. John the Evangelist brought me additional fresh insight into how the imagination can be utilized effectively in prayer. Geoffrey Tristam stated, “It can be very helpful in prayer to use our imaginations and to actually spend time holding a person before…Jesus. I often imagine Jesus looking at the sick person with deep kindness, knowing them, loving them as someone unique. I imagine Jesus laying His healing hands upon them, and filling them with new hope and peace.” This thought intrigued me, so I began allowing my imagination to picture Jesus entering into more of my conversations with the Father and into my reading of Scripture. How amazing to allow the One who lives to intercede for me…and the One who  is  the very Word of God…to participate in my prayers for myself and for others in this unique way. Engaging my imagination provides a powerful opportunity to allow Jesus to be very present in the midst of all that is upon my heart. I pictured Jesus wrapping His arms around my friend whose mother is in the hospital, and saw Him bending down to whisper into my granddaughter’s ear as she played…telling her how much He loves and cares for her as I prayed for her. Wow! That was a particularly sweet prayer time for me. There are many other situations; however, I’m sure you get the idea. Why not give this a try as you pray through your everyday life? Use your imagination to include Jesus in the lives of those for whom you pray. See if His involvement doesn’t grip your heart and give you fresh insights and words to pray into every situation. Perhaps you will find, as I have, that your prayers may get redirected to reflect His kingdom purposes for the sake of the Father’s glory.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries During the captivity of Israel in Babylon, things became pretty good for many of the Jews. As a matter of fact, after the 70 years were up, not everyone wanted to return to the land of Israel. Homes had been built, businesses were prospering, and families were comfortable. Returning to their ancestral home meant a long, dangerous journey, after which they would face the tough task of rebuilding Jerusalem. To this very day, there are descendants of Israel who have remained in ancient Babylon. It could be asked, “Why would anyone leave comfort for a dangerous, uncertain future?”  As I reread the Book of Ezra, I didn’t have to look far to find the answer. In Ezra 1:5 we find the reason: “Everyone whose heart God had moved….prepared to go up and build the house of The Lord in Jerusalem.” The return of the Jews from captivity in Babylon to the land of their fathers was first and foremost the work of God. It was The Lord who seventy years earlier had allowed the Temple of Solomon to be destroyed as a result of the continued sin of the people. When He determined that it was time to rebuild, He placed that task upon the hearts of those who were sensitive to His Spirit. It wasn’t going to be easy, but with His help, the House of God would be rebuilt. You do know, of course, that the Spirit of God is still at work, calling His people to build His House. One of the clearest teachings of scripture is that God’s House is to be a House of Prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7, Mark 11:17). We are already experiencing this as God breathes upon the generations in such moves of God as the 24-7 prayer movement spreading rapidly across the earth. I believe that when the Church truly becomes that House of Prayer, we will see an amazing movement of the Spirit of God that empowers us to finish the task of world evangelization. As we consider the task before us of building a House of Prayer, and then look back on the situation in Ezra’s day, dare we ask the question of whether or not the Church today is in a sort of Babylonian captivity? Have we become comfortable with church as it is? Does it seem too daunting a task to leave behind that which is comfortable and truly become a praying people? Here’s the good news: God’s Spirit is still moving hearts to “go up and build the house of The Lord.” He is at work. The question before you today is: “Will you listen to His voice and allow His Spirit to move your heart? Leaving behind the comfort of the ways you’ve always done it, will you move into uncharted waters and begin to build that which is on the Lord’s heart today? “For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”(Is.56:7).

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Keeping a kingdom focus is difficult when circumstances get tough, when we get discouraged, or when we simply get tired and worn down. Yet, we all know of people who epitomize Galatians 6:9: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” What makes the difference between those who can work tirelessly in thankless and/or tedious service to others…and those who “give up”? When asked how she could work day in and day out caring for and loving the “poorest of the poor,” Mother Teresa simply answered, “I pray.” Her life example, as well as intentional teaching of others who worked with her, was to develop a consistent life of prayer. It was her observation that well-meaning people could sustain work such as she did among lepers in Calcutta and with the poor in many places of the world, for perhaps a year or two at best. However, those who willingly and joyfully pressed into difficult work for God’s kingdom day after day, year after year with joyful hearts could only be sustained by an unwavering moment by moment, constant and unfailing prayer life. The transformational work of God that enables us to do “small things with great joy” (Mother Teresa) which have significant impact on lives, families, communities and beyond, are fueled by connectivity with the Father who gives us the strength to do all things! Nurturing holy habits of prayer are paramount to the endurance needed to run the race set before us. Trying to do so in our own enthusiasm and strength only sets us up for failure. It means the work is based only upon what we, in our humanness, are able to do rather than what God in His holiness and power can do through us. One prayer habit that has been most helpful to me is an ancient one. It is called the Prayer of Examen. Scripture says much about examining ourselves and opening ourselves up to the Lord’s examination. Here are two such verses of many: “When you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent” (Psalm 4:4). “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). The Prayer of Examen is a prayer practice in which God examines our hearts, minds and motives. As I have tried to make this more of a habit in my every day prayer life, I’ve discovered that the Holy Spirit has more of an opening to do a deep work in me…to purify my heart and life of those things which distract and deter me from living more fully for the sake of Jesus and His kingdom. The Prayer of Examen is a powerful way to experience God in all things by intentionally thinking carefully about your day before going to sleep. Here are some helpful steps: Bring to your mind as much as you can about what you did and thought about, what interactions you had with others, what things happened to you, etc. throughout the course of the day. Think through all of the blessings you received and blessings you gave to others. Thank God for each one of them in turn, giving yourself the opportunity to be truly grateful. Consider all of the good you might have done but didn’t because you were too busy, missed the opportunity, were too afraid or uncertain, etc. Take time to confess those sins of omission to God with a repentant heart. Repent of every unloving or unkind action including angry or harsh words that were spoken to others. Be still for a few moments and ask the Father to help you to consider how you could act in more loving ways and how you might make right any situation in which someone else was hurt or harmed by your actions or words. Prayerfully taking inventory of your day allows you to learn how to live more fully for Jesus and to serve Him in Christ-like ways. Taking this posture of humility on a consistent daily basis will give you the spiritual tools and strength to step more fully into God’s kingdom purposes for your life.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Living enough years gives you time to look back on the mistakes of your life with some degree of understanding. It seems to me that virtually every mistake, sin, or mess-up in my life has come from failing to understand and appropriate the truth of Colossians 3:3. It’s really very simple…I died. In responding to the call of Christ, I was crucified with him and it is no longer I who live. Rather than a morbid thinking of death, in reality this brings astonishing freedom. I don’t have to worry about “me” anymore. Dead men have no worries. Since there is still some degree of strength and energy in this body, I am now free to focus on God and others. What joy it brings to not worry about self, living free to love others! This dying-to-self life of freedom and joy must carry over into our prayer life. Free from the burden of worrying about self, I am free instead to give myself to intercession for others. Why would I spend the majority of my prayer time praying for myself and my needs? I’m a dead man! I am able to pour out my prayers for others knowing that my life is “hidden with Christ” and totally provided for. God, of course, wants to hear my needs and desires; however, He also wants me to intentionally focus upon His kingdom purposes rather than always defaulting to my own issues. “Dead men praying” should be a good description of our life of prayer.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries I recently came across the term “Christ-encountering prayer” described by author Fred Hartley.  This concept gripped my heart and had me asking the question, “What does Christ-encountering prayer look like in my life?” Heading to my trusty thesaurus, I came across some intriguing synonyms for “encounter” which stimulated some thoughts that describe ways to experience Christ-encountering prayer.  Let’s take a look together: Meeting  – Prayer allows us to meet with Christ in the same way that Jesus met with the Father while on earth. He went to lonely, solitary places to key in on the voice of the One who continually instructed Him as He functioned in the realm of the flesh: “Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless  it is  something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner” (John 5:19).  What would your prayer life look like if you sought the activity of God in all things? Perhaps we could frame our prayer something like this: “Father, I can do nothing apart from You! Help me to see what You are doing around me so that I can take part in the activity of Your kingdom!” There is another kind of meeting with Jesus that is happening all over the earth…as God’s people intercede for those who have yet to know Him, the Father is moving through dreams and visions. Many times in closed nations, the only missionary that can get through is a prayer missionary. Continually, there are reports of Muslims who are responding to Jesus because they have encountered Him in a dream or vision. “Lord Jesus, may the prayers of my heart for those who are lost go places I could never dream of going physically. May You send dreams and visions in response to my prayers so that Your glory will be known throughout all the earth!” Come across  – Sometimes, in the ordinary moments of our lives, we come across the activity of God. It isn’t an intentional seeking-after, but more of an awareness that there is something of spiritual significance that has crossed our path. If we are too busy to notice, we may never have any unexpected and serendipitous times of prayer. “Lord Jesus, help my spiritual eyes and ears to be continually aware of Your activity and Presence, so that whenever my heart comes across something that intersects Your purposes, I will be aware that Your Spirit is stirring me to seek Your face.” Bump into  – At first glance, I thought this was a lot like “come across”; however, as I began to ask God what this might mean in a different context, I believe He gave me an interesting insight. Sometimes we casually come across something as we are aware of our surroundings and what may be up ahead of us…and other times we literally bump into a situation unexpectedly where prayer is needed immediately. Perhaps the most frequent occurrence of this is when a person is in need of a touch from Jesus that He wants to give through us! “Gracious Savior, when I bump into someone I know, or even a complete stranger, whose situation or life is in need of You, compel me to pray for him or her right then, knowing they may not be able to intercede in that moment for themselves. May I encounter You in them and minister to them as I would minister to You! Give me courage to step into their need and to connect their need with Your power so that they might also have a Christ-encounter.” Grapple with (wrestle, struggle, grasp, grip) –  Sometimes   Christ-encountering prayer is difficult, and we question the pain or the suffering we or someone we are praying for may be experiencing. To encounter Jesus in the midst of hurt, sorrow or grief is to allow His heart to intersect our struggle even when we are arguing with God or trying to deal with things on our own rather than in His strength. Relinquishing control often comes as we place our difficulty on His altar and allow Him to move in response to our cries for help. “Lord Jesus, there are times in my life and in the lives of others when tough times come and we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon You! Let me encounter You in the midst of hard things. Thank You that I can grapple with You and that You understand that in my frail flesh I struggle – even when I know Your character is to work in and through every situation I encounter. May that reality continually sink in to resolve my fear and fill me with the hope found only in You.” There are so many more ways to have Christ-encountering prayer!  He lives in us and lives to intercede for us. Since He is within us, His intercession becomes our own.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries Andrew Murray stated, “When God gives the Holy Spirit, His great object is the formation of a holy character. It is a gift of a holy mind and spiritual disposition, and what we need above everything else is to say: ‘I must have the Holy Spirit sanctifying my whole inner life if I am really to live for God’s glory.’” Every morning my prayer is, “Father, show me how to be more like Jesus Christ today so that You will be glorified!” Knowing that every day I will fall short of this goal, I take joy in the smallest victories to this end! My flesh loves to be in control, and stubbornly clings to sinful things like anxiety and pride. However, God’s word faithfully restores my confidence in His ability to transform my heart and life day by day. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the voice of Christ within me speaks. Moment by moment in my everyday ordinary life, I must bring my sinful thoughts, actions and words to Him as quickly as they arise so that gradually they will give way to His thoughts, actions and words.  I pray to be less, even though everything prideful in me seeks attention and recognition. This is not an easy struggle, but growing up in Christ is a narrow path strewn with worldly distractions and insidious idolatry that sets itself up against the transformational work of God. It is a battle that can only be won in the spiritual realm – not by my own determination and desire. Without dying to my flesh, the formation of this holy character cannot be made manifest in me. Paul recognized that God’s children are susceptible to the deception of darkness without complete faith and trust in the One who created us and knows us best. Therefore, in his letter to “God’s holy people” in the city of Colosse, he shares a powerful prayer that, prayed for our lives and the lives of others, will transform us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ: “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:9-12). There is much to be gleaned from the purposes of Paul’s prayer for our everyday lives. How we, God’s people, need to be filled with the knowledge of His will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. So often we struggle in the flesh to know the will of God, yet do we ever ask to be filled with the knowledge of His will? What a powerful prayer request! “Father, fill me with the knowledge of Your will for my life through all spiritual wisdom and understanding!” Still, it is important to recognize that the term “spiritual wisdom” has often become twisted in our culture. Not everything with this label is Christian in nature. We must be vigilant to ask the Father to fill us, and those for whom we are interceding, with Holy Spirit wisdom through the very mind of Christ, so that we may have a clear and perfect understanding of His will for us!  The result? We and others for whom we pray will begin to live lives worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in every way by bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened with all power according to the glorious might of God! Here we will begin to see the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit moving within and throughout our day to day lives. Is there anyone who would not want such a prayer of blessing and power? Paul prays for the believers to be strengthened so that they might have great endurance and patience to withstand whatever struggles, trials or persecutions might come and so that they might be enabled to joyfully give thanks to God in the midst of their day to day lives – whatever may come! I am eager to give thanks to the Father when I am comfortable and life is going well; however, only His supernatural strength upholds my joy when that is not the case! How many do you know who need the courage of God in their lives right now to endure a trial? Maybe you need that in your own life. Isn’t it a powerful encouragement to see those saints who are able to live in full joy and confidence in the midst of pain or difficulty? Today, as we face the distinct likelihood of the end of days and the potential suffering that may take place, we must be prepared to endure with the strength of the Spirit, and to live out holy and victorious lives in the midst of it. Pray that God will give you and other believers such strength, so that we may joyfully give thanks to God, who has qualified us “to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” The way of holiness is to walk in the way of Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we pray the powerful word of God into our everyday lives, and crucify our fleshly desires to lean into the desires of our Father, we will live more fully within the kingdom of His light. We will know the will of God for our lives, and please Him in every way. We will be given His strength and be sustained by joy and thanksgiving! May the formation of a holy character continue in us all for the glory of God!

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries “To walk in the presence of the Lord means to move forward in life in such a way that all our desires, thoughts, and actions are constantly guided by him. When we walk in the Lord’s presence, everything we see, hear, touch, or taste reminds us of him. This is what is meant by a prayerful life. It is not a life in which we say many prayers, but a life in which nothing, absolutely nothing, is done, said or understood independently of him who is the origin and purpose of our existence… When we no longer walk in the presence of the Lord, we cannot be living reminders of his divine presence in our lives.” – Henri Nouwen, The Living Reminder These powerful words describe what the journey of prayer as everyday life should be like. Everything is created by, informed by and shaped by the presence of God as “in Him we live, move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). As we walk through each day, He is present in every activity, every thought, and every moment of rest. God’s heart beats within our own and His kingdom purposes are yearning for our attention during the moments when we are forgetful of His continual companionship. My deepest desire is to integrate the presence of Christ in me throughout my day. I desire that my first and last thoughts each day as well as everything in between would turn to the very present God…our Jehovah Shammah (The Lord is There). This amazing God knows everything about us: “you know when I sit and when I rise” (Psalm 139:2), He knows our thoughts: “…you perceive my thoughts from afar” (Psalm 139:2), and He knows our ways: “You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3). He knew all of these things before we were even born: “For you created my inmost being and you knit me together in my mother’s womb” (Psalm 139:13). How is it that this amazing God slips our minds –  ever ? Yet, even though God’s word says that apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5), we spend much of our lives doing and thinking and making decisions and plans completely independently of our Father, the One who knows us perfectly – inside and out. Perhaps all it will take is to develop some godly strategies for remembering and recognizing His presence in our world and in the continual going about our day living. Is it even possible to cultivate never ending prayerfulness? Yes! God created us for this possibility to become reality. His word declares that we are to “pray continually” no matter where we are or what we are experiencing. If we are to be “living reminders” to everyone we connect with day to day, Jesus must ooze from our pores simply because we live, move and have our being in His presence. Here are a few simple strategies to help us live prayerfully in God’s presence: Cultivate thankfulness for all things created, and for your daily experiences simply by becoming more aware. Develop a heart of gratitude even for things you normally take for granted. If you see loveliness around you, express your thanks to the Father. If you think of a good idea, give God praise for shaping your mind. Perhaps you have an opportunity to speak life or peace or hope into another person. Give the Lord thanks for opening the way for the conversation to take place. If you or someone you connect with has a need, or if you simply see a need around you, take time to pray in that moment for God to intervene in a life or situation. Remember to be willing for the Holy Spirit to prompt you to meet the very need you just prayed about. Take time each day to sit in silence. If you could spend ten minutes a day in silence, simply telling God that you want to spend time with Him, enjoying Him, you will begin to experience the truth of Matthew 6:33: “Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.” You will likely be able to think of many other ways to cultivate a prayerful “knowing” that God is continually present with you. As we foster our awareness of Jehovah Shammah through all of our senses and experiences, over time we will begin to encounter a deeper sense of joy and security no matter what comes our way. And, we will become living reminders of the presence of Jesus to all who come into contact with us. May living prayerfully in His presence become a continual reality for our everyday lives!

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries If your life is anything like mine, sometimes it seems to be moving at too fast of a pace. There is a great need to breathe and reflect and recapture some moments of peace and a tangible awareness that Emmanuel, God with us, is indeed just that! When life becomes hectic and frantic, there is a great need for an intentional slowing down in order to connect with God more regularly. Even on days when we are more restful and less engaged with activity, it is important to fix our gaze upon God’s face and seek His company. A rhythm of prayer that helps me to more fully engage the presence of God in every day life is best known as the Prayer of Examen. Although it can be done twice a day, most people find that engaging in this practice before bed is very effective. Examen involves setting aside 10-15 minutes and taking prayerful notice of your entire day. For this to become a holy prayer habit that is sustainable, choose approximately the same time each day and find a place where you can be undisturbed and undistracted. Also, feel free to make this prayer your own in a way that fits your own personality and reflects your own unique relationship with God. There are basically three simple steps that make up the prayer of Examen: 1.  Preparation – take time to still and quiet your soul:  “Surely I have composed and quieted my soul; like a weaned child rests against his mother, my soul is like a weaned child within me” (Psalm 131:2).  Focus your attention completely upon God in this moment: “In him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). 2.  Begin to review your entire day.  Give thanks to God for all that He brings to your mind. Ask God to show you two things: “When the Spirit of truth comes he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13). • Notice when you lived out of love and freedom in Jesus Christ: “Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence or if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things “ (Philippians 4:8). • Notice when you did not live out of love and freedom in Jesus: “Let us test and examine our ways, and return to the Lord” (Lamentations 3:40). Spend some time dealing with those things God brings to mind in repentance. 3.  Give thanks to God for the opportunity to review the day, and to notice when you did or didn’t live like Jesus.  Ask God for guidance and grace for tomorrow: “Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen” (Ephesians 3:20-21). I suggest keeping a journal and discerning with a mentor or trusted friend what God downloads to your spirit during these short seasons of prayer. As this practice becomes a habit for you, allow yourself the freedom to welcome with gratitude the changes that the Holy Spirit births in you. Stick this out for several days and you will see how the practice grows on you and gives surprising depth to the hours of your days. The Prayer of Examen will likely become a practice you will delight in coming back to over and over again as you pay attention to the movement and presence of God throughout your everyday life.

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries I have a sign on my office bulletin board that states, “Sit in silence for ten minutes every day.” It is not as easy as it sounds; however, silence is an important discipline to cultivate in one’s journey towards Christ-likeness. I wish I could say I was good at practicing this discipline, but it is my goal to eventually get to the place where the exercise of silence strengthens my ability to be attentive to God as I go about my normal everyday activities. Ten minutes isn’t a very long time, but it seems like an eternity when there is much to do and many things on my mind. Yet, the discipline of silence, if nurtured well, will result in a deeper knowing of the heart of God. How can God speak to me if I am always talking…or otherwise engaged? If I make room for Him to speak, perhaps my doing and thinking will be more kingdom-focused, and my prayers more intent upon and aligned with God’s heart. And, hopefully my activity following silence will be filled with obedient, Christ-like pursuits. Silence is not easy in our noisy culture; however, as Henri Nouwen states, “I have never met anyone seriously interested in the spiritual life who did not have a growing desire for silence.” In the spiritual discipline of silence, we create space for God to speak. How we engage God in this time can be in a variety of ways; however, I will touch on two. First, we can wait silently for God to speak directly to us…with an expectation that He will give us a word or a revelation regarding some clarity that is needed or if there is something we have been struggling with, such as a choice that needs to be made. It is a time of intentional listening for the purpose of discerning the voice of the Father. I often use the words of young Samuel, who said, “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening.” Patient waiting is involved in this form of silence. It can be hard work, but as Nouwen wrote, “Silence is the furnace of transformation.” Secondly, there is a discipline of silence that is simply “keeping company with God.” It isn’t the time to ask questions or express what is on our hearts. If we fill the silence with our thoughts and questions –there is no true silence. In this kind of silent prayer, we can allow ourselves simply to be with God – and that is enough. There is no void because God is present. We are aware of His presence because we are paying attention. Susan Muto stated, “Silence is not to be shunned as empty space, but to be befriended as fertile ground for intimacy with God.” Jesus, of course, is our prime example of one who waited patiently on God. He stated that He never did or said anything that the Father did not instruct Him to do or say. We know from Scripture that Jesus spent a lot of time in silent prayer – waiting and listening. But we also see our Living Christ moving throughout His day with continual wisdom and grace – He didn’t always need to stop before every healing or word spoken to draw apart for a private exchange with God, for that conversation was always part of Him. He had times of extended solitude with God, but was always attentive to the voice He knew so well no matter what circumstance He found Himself involved in. This is prayer in everyday life.  “Silence is praise to you, Zion-dwelling God, and also obedience. You hear the prayer in it all” (Psalm 65:1-2 MSG).

Originally published as a blog post by Harvest Prayer Ministries One of the greatest dangers in the Christian life is stagnation.  It happens when we quit moving.  There are lots of reasons why we quit moving and growing. Sometimes it just isn’t easy and we decide to stay where we are. It’s easier to stay than go. The press of other issues in life sometimes cause us to stop right we are spiritually. Obstacles from situations or other people often bring our spiritual progress to a halt. One of the most dangerous reasons is simply lack of vision.  We’ve been growing, we are doing things in the Kingdom, we are seeing God move and there can come that moment of feeling we have arrived. The failure to have the spiritual vision that challenges us to keep moving is deadly. Psalm 84 is a tool God has used to continually challenge me to keep moving – especially in my prayer life. I have used this powerful psalm to keep myself on a prayer pilgrimage. It is interesting that Psalm 84 speaks of pilgrimage (vs 5) because the whole psalm is really about dwelling in God’s house. How do you dwell somewhere, yet still be on a journey to that place? I think that apparent contradiction is why it appeals so much to me.  You see, that’s where I am spiritually. Through Jesus, I now dwell in God’s house. Indeed, it can be said that you and I are God’s house in which He dwells through His Spirit. That is just solid biblical teaching. But in living this out, I discover that I am on a journey – a journey of awareness of Christ’s presence in me. And like any journey, I must keep moving if I am to arrive at my destination. Without setting my heart on the pilgrimage of continually being attentive to the truth that Jesus lives within me, I will forget the amazing truth that I not only can, but am even now dwelling in the House of God! It is prayer that keeps me walking in this state of alertness. “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.”  (Psalm 84:5-7)