Steering Wheel?

“Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?”

― Corrie Ten Boom

Do we come to prayer first and always? All throughout our day? Or only in our most desperate times when we can “only pray”?

We can never do it perfectly, but oh how we miss out on the many joyous treasures God gives through prayer.

Our Only Perfect Friend

“What a friend we have in Jesus,
all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit,
O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry
everything to God in prayer!” – What a Friend We Have in Jesus (Traditional Hymn)

O what peace we forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, because we do not pray. We do not speak to our greatest friend and we are the ones who suffer the most for it.

What peace, what joy, might we know if we continued steadfast in prayer. To “pray and not lose heart”. To be given courage and grace and joy and purpose. To “come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). I’ve been pondering my need of prayer as I ponder my lack of it. The context of that verse is a great motivation to pray:

Our High Priest

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:15-16

Jesus was tempted in all ways as we are, and much more. He faced more temptation than all mankind has, is, or ever will, face. He knows the temptation, the weakness, the pain, and offers “grace to help in time of need”. Oh, let us seize this grace. Let us take hold and not let go. Let us grasp and pray and plead for this grace. Let us take hold of Him and not let go, for the essence of His grace is Himself. There is no truer expression.

Take advantage of the means of grace He has promised to bless. Read, pray, fellowship, share.

Don’t Waste Your Life, spend it for Him. He holds you.

Josh

Photo by Ezra Jeffrey-Comeau on Unsplash