Are You Too Busy NOT To Pray? (Part 2)
I am excited to continue my series of posts based on Bill Hybels’ book:
Too Busy NOT To Pray, which will culminate in the launching of my course: A Passionate Devotional Life Through Worship, Study and Journaling on Wednesday, June 2, 2021.
From Chapter 1 God of Peace, God of Power, Bill writes:
“When we pray, it’s as if something within us is hard-wired with the knowledge that in so doing we weave stronger threads of intimacy with the One who alone can provide peace to endure and power to overcome whatever challenges we face.”
Bill writes of his struggle with his dad passing when he was relatively young and an extremely active man–died of a heart attack. He wondered how he would continue to function now that the person who believed in him more than anyone else was gone.
“God simply conveyed, I’m able. I’m enough for you. Right now you doubt I have a purpose in all of this but please…trust me…But as if intent on piercing my darkness, God overpowered me with a massive beam of courage, reassurance and hope.”
Another struggle Bill writes about is when his daughter was pregnant with their first grandchild and complications she might have:
“The only thing I knew to do was to pray–intentionally, continuously and with great faith…God seemed a lot more composed about the whole deal, which relaxed me immensely. Each time He and I went through this little ritual, after several minutes of focused prayer, I could feel the sense of burden or foreboding being lifted from my body. Shortly thereafter a sense of peace would be restored to my inner world.”
Writing of a discovery from an in-depth study of prayer, Bill continues:
“The greatest thrill to a life of prayer is the qualitative difference made in one’s relationship with God… I have been astonished by His approachability, endeared by His care, stilled by His presence, encouraged by His affirmation and challenged by His insatiable desire to make the truth known. Nothing compares to this type of first-hand knowledge of God.”
Writing of God’s supernatural power, it “can handle any kind of difficulty, dilemma or discouragement.”
Bill closes Chapter 1 with the story of when Moses held his arms up, Joshua succeeded in battle. When Moses’ arms got tired, his brother Aaron and friend Hur held them up. Moses discovered that day that God’s prevailing power is released through prayer.
I had my own “Aaron and Hur”–Annette and Emily. When I faced difficulties in my teaching, I would call them to pray. God answered in either causing the situation to stop or strengthening me to handle it.
Image courtesy of: W. Visser