If we are truly to “pray without ceasing,” as Paul exhorts us to do (1 Thessalonians 5:17 KJV), then we should always be in a state of prayer – constantly recognizing God’s presence with us. I think Jesus prayed constantly, simply because He and the Father are one. (John 10:30; 17:21). There are many examples of Jesus going to a quiet place to pray by Himself, and He instructed His disciples to do the same, as recorded in Matthew 6:6.
Many people choose to practice prayer through a daily “quiet time,” and most of them prefer to have their quiet time in the morning or right before going to bed. A.W Tozer stressed the importance of meeting with God daily through prayer and meditation. Tozer’s book The Pursuit of God has meant more to me in my spiritual journey than any other book-outside the Bible, of course! I keep a dog-eared copy with my Bible by my bed. Tozer reminds us that it is only in the very presence of God that we find the rest for our souls that we are all seeking.
‘Be still and know’
God tells us to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Praying people usually agree that the best way to commune with God is in a quiet place, alone, with no distractions. Some people have a chosen place for their quiet time that is so well used that simply being there puts them into a state of prayer. But this does not mean that being alone with God is only possible in our usual place or behind closed doors. A person who needs prayer can look for any secluded, quiet place to listen for the still, small voice of God. Many times we find it in places we do not expect.
The prophet Elijah, running for his life, went into a cave to spend the night. In the silence of that cave, God spoke to him. He was told to go out and wait for the presence of the Lord to pass by. He waited. God was not in the terrible wind that arrived and tore the mountains. He was not in the earthquake or fire that came. God came in a gentle whisper (1 Kings 19:9-13). How can we hear God in our prayertime if we are not still and quiet? We must be focused on connecting with the will of God and listening for the voice of God.
As a helpful resource, I have lots of articles on healthy ingredients and recipes that you can implement into your daily life.
If you’d like to dig deeper into my journey of discovering God’s plan for health and wellness, check out my book, Made For Paradise: God’s Original Plan for Healthy Eating, Physical Activity, and Rest.
