I was talking to someone recently about how Christ forms habits of obedience in us as we make choices toward him. The more we create time for him, choose his way even in the small things, and resist old ways of sin, God’s life of faith becomes reflexive. We don’t always have to think “what would Jesus do?” Part of this is creating a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s role in us. The other part is living day by day in obedience to Christ.
Can prayer also become reflexive and not simply reactive to situations? We need to learn to not simply pray out of tradition but more like the way our brain operates to move our fingers and toes. We don’t really think about it, we just do it. What does it take to reflexively pray? Part of the solution is thinking and living life’ in the whole’ versus segmented parts. What I mean by this is that we can think of certain parts of the week or day as “God’s part”, such as Sundays or during our devotional time. In the same sense a good chunk of our week belongs to our work or our school. When we’re working we’re on “their time” . Then when we get home, have dinner and kick back with a book, television or the computer its “our time”. The danger here is that we begin living-to steal a phrase from Craig Gay- like practical atheists. Our times of devotions, prayer, worship and church are on God’s time. But outside of this we can act as if God isn’t there and doesn’t exist. We are live outside of religious exercises as atheists in practice because we can so easily exclude God from our lives and our decision-making. This might be painting a very broad picture but it can easily happen. In our academic, institutional and professional world there is little to no reference to God or prayer anywhere. This would not be the case in the eastern world of India or Saudi Arabia where religious devotion is re-enforced and encouraged everywhere.
One thing we can do for reminders of God in the everyday is set up liturgies or spiritual habits and patterns. Years ago when I worked at Starbucks I would read a little section of Scripture at lunch and then pray this back to God. Another time in my life I asked God to wake me up so that I could have time with him. Sometimes this would be 3 in the morning but whatever the time I found myself wide awake to pray! If he can raise the dead than he can give us grace for the need of prayer! Recently I use time in the car going to work to pray, worship and intercede for the souls of people who need Christ. As you purposefully practice God’s presence throughout the day, it just becomes more and more natural to pray as if it’s an ongoing conversation- which is what it becomes! The discipline of listening and hearing God’s voice is another part of prayer so that it is a true dialogue.
All these things come slowly. But the more you practice them the more God can shape you into his image and likeness. Unlike the world’s shaping process, God has our best in mind. Perhaps you find yourself distant from Him because of things you’ve done or things you think you should have done. As we come to him in humility and honesty he promises to draw near to us. And when I recall his awesome love for me it encourages me to continue praying.
Phil Nelson
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After a nine month hiatus we are having encounters again.
Too often in the past we have discipled people to knowledge rather that obedience. We consider it more important that they knew correct doctrine than that they practiced correct doctrine. In light of this, I recently heard a great story. It is about guy I know who has been an evangelist/ministry leader for many years in a nearby university.
Women’s Encounter 
1. What’s one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?
