Ask many Christians today this question, How much time do you spend with the LORD daily?, and in most probability the answer would be twice we pray. Half an hour in the morning and possibly same time in the evening. One of these might be a family prayer, which would be a 10 minute prayer by each member!
Many of us work in secular jobs, students study in schools / colleges, commute to work and back home and in the meantime spend 12 to 13 hours out of our residence. Some may work overtime, attend special classes etc., hence extending these hours. In a day we sleep somewhere between 6 to 10 hours. Balance available time is what we spend with our family. For home makers, upkeep of the residence and daily cooking, cleaning etc., attending babies' needs, watching TV, gossiping with neighbour... oh... they would say 24 hours is not sufficient...
Now you may ask, with this hectic schedule, where is the time for prayer?
Ask the parents how their children pray, most of the parents would complain, no prayer time or negligible time spent on prayer. There are families where it becomes a weekly affair, where children either are lethargic to attend church services or don't participate in the church activities. The energy they have for a game of cricket or football, they don't show in church activities.
Of course there are exceptions. But generally this is the case.
Let us first understand the core of this issue. The parents have a greater responsibility to show the children on how to lead a Christ like life. Elder children also carry responsibility for their younger siblings.
Parents, are we being prayerful in our daily activities?
Do we start our day with Prayer? Followed by bible reading? In all activities, be it cooking or getting ready for the work, do we thank God for the gracious providence?
Isn't His providence we get water, vegetables, meat to cook? Aren't there many in the world who couldn't get this?
Jesus asked us to pray for providence of our daily bread. Once provided, don't we have to give thanks before cooking?
How many of us pray before we get on to our two wheeler or car? Or even getting into a bus?
There might be situation where you need to walk a certain distance. Have you thanked the good LORD for strong feet and healthy legs?
At work, many of us find no reason to pray. Our prayers are required to accomplish even our daily routine things.
Understand that Jesus said
"Without me you cannot do anything"
Unless we pray, get the required strength from the LORD, we surely cannot do anything.
We are just branches, without any source of water / minerals. The Vine is Jesus. Without Jesus we would become dried up and the Father as a faithful husbandman would prune those branches who are not abiding in Jesus.
It is not sufficient for the Christian to be abiding in the vine only half hour in the morning and half hour in the evening. If we keep us abiding in the vine all the time, father cleans up to branches to bear more fruits.
If you wonder why you have not brought forth fruits to the LORD, first let us understand that for Being fruitful we must be abiding to the Vine.
Paul says “sometimes sinful nature overcomes good nature and I am unable being good"
This happens because of the intermittent abiding to the Vine.
Being prayerful at all times is the mandate. When we are prayerful, we are abiding in Jesus. We allow Holy Spirit to work with us. Have you ever tried to submit your work to the Lord? Try doing it.
Paul writes, In all situations, be thankful to the Lord.
There are situations that you may perceive as adverse. However might be the situation, give thanks to the LORD.
This quality of Thanking the LORD in every situation comes with prayer and practice. Remember Job. Remember Stephen. Even when they were driven to the brink of death, they still prayed.
Prayer is not a few minutes act where we ask ask ask and possibly thank God for few mercies and close to go back. Prayer is a relationship between you and your creator. Prayer is that abiding force which keeps you in the vine.
Supplication of your lives to God and accepting that without Jesus you can not accomplish anything is the first step to start abiding in the Vine.
Vine is ready to nourish the branches. Are you willing to be abiding in the Vine and bring forth fruits?
Meditate John 15 for furtherance of how to be abiding and bring forth fruits.
May the Spirit of Truth lead you in all Truths. Amen.