How Easy To Slip Away

I read a statement earlier today I'm still chewing on. I'll share the statement at the end. First, I think we would all agree most of us are busy. Some are burning the candle at both ends. We live in a fast paced society and you have to quicken the pace just to keep up. This even includes church.

Churches are constantly looking for volunteers. To teach. To sing. To play an instrument. To run audio/visual equipment. To cook. To plan, lead, administrate and the list could go on. Most churches are complex organizations requiring multiple people to keep the ministry going.

The fact is people only have so much time in a given day. Factor in work, sleep, and family and there is little time left. In every church I've served there has been a small group of workhorses. They love Jesus and the church and constantly volunteer to do more when they are already overloaded. They fill their days with good activities to honor God. Only such an attitude comes at a cost. A perilous cost.

How often are people so busy doing things for God they do not have time to spend with God. They serve but they are empty. They give but they are not refilled. They sacrifice time and money but at times begrudgingly.

Now for the quote that spoke so deeply to me. "How easy it is to slip away from the prayer closet." E.M. Bounds wrote than in his book The Weapon of Prayer. That is what we usually forsake when our schedules are hectic. It doesn't happen deliberately. A person may think, "I'll pray later." Only later such a person is so tired and stressed they cannot concentrate to pray or they fall alseep. The prayer closet gets frequented less and less. The end result is burnout in the best case scenario and washout in destructive sinful habits in worst case scenarios.

Of all the things that might get neglected in our daily schedules spending time praying in the prayer closet must not be one of them. That means we have to let some things go if they are hindering our communion with God. We have to simplify our schedules so that prayer is of the highest priority. I know that's easier said than done.

Jesus modeled this for us. Look at the intentional effort He took to keep prayer in His schedule.

Mark 1:35 (NKJV)
35  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

He rose early. Way early. I know that does not work for some people because you are such night owls. Then it means saying up late without the distraction of television or social media. He forsook the company of the disciples to be alone. He found a deserted place where He would not get distracted. Do we go to such lengths?

Jesus also commanded us to pray.

Matthew 6:5-8 (NKJV)
5  "And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
6  But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
7  And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8  Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him.

Notice Jesus did not say, "If you pray." He said, "when you pray." In fact He said that three times. He intends for us to pray. He expects us to pray.

How easy it is for us to neglect time with God. It is a slippery slope that keeps us backsliding further and further away from God, even when we are doing things for Him, when we neglect prayer. Let us not fall us into this subtle trap.