A Prayerful Slice of Time

By Diane Mckinzie

Time is so important, but yet we treat it as though it is something to be taken for granted, and something we will always have. We take time to shop, cook meals, watch our favorite TV shows, or just talk on the phone; but have you made the effort to carve a small slice of time each day to talk to God? Praying in daily life is as important as breathing.

I have made a conscious effort to wake up, and before I do anything else, start praying. I am an early riser, so most of the time I am up by 6 a.m.. My time of day may not work to be your time for prayer. Nevertheless, it is important to set aside a time each day for your personal prayer time. If possible, I encourage you to be somewhere in your space (home, patio, walk-in closet, etc.) that is void of noise, has low light, and no digital devices. I have a small sofa in my breakfast room, with a small side table, where my Bible as well as other inspirational spiritual readings are resting, so I can choose which reading material I would like to read from that particular day in addition to my Bible.

You may want to refresh yourself with God by praying the moment you rise up from your lying position in bed, to a sitting position on the side of the bed, and just close your eyes for a moment, and offer a prayer of thanks to God for allowing you to wake up. Now, that’s not hard, is it? We usually use prayer as a last resort, but we should use it as our first line of defense. Starting this prayerful time in your life is a good habit that you likely will not want to break.

COVID-19 has put us in a crisis of epic proportions that has changed how we live our daily lives. We are forced to be isolated together with our families or alone in our homes. Most of us have been given unexpected down time. This is the perfect time to create a new “good” habit, carving that little slice of time for your personal quiet prayer time. This is a time to pray for hope in our current situation where some find themselves facing illness, despair, and death. In Hebrews 6:19 it says that hope is the anchor of the soul. Hope is the force that keeps you steady in time of trial.

I refer to my daily prayer time as my daily “spiritual shower”. Just like we daily take a shower to cleanse our bodies, why not take the time to shower yourself with prayer to cleanse your day? I feel that it is also very important that in your prayer time, you practice silence. Being silent is one way to be receptive to the Holy Spirit, God.

Prayer can be therapeutic. In your prayer time, it can become a time to breathe in the spirit of God, helping you fight fear, depression, seeing a light of hope, and help you know God is ever present in your life. In your silence, listen, and allow your mind to be open to hear what He has to say.