(a repeat from 2012)
"At the Drop Of a Heart"
"Continuing instant in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
The Apostle Paul commands that born again believers be always ready for prayer, or as today's title suggests, we pray "at the drop of a heart." Certainly we cherish and require our private times of devotion in which we seek God in His Word and prayerfully express our hearts to Him. No less than the Lord Jesus Christ spent such time with His Father. "It came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray" (Luke 6:12). The Holy Spirit will doubtless lead believers to the same privileged responsibility of private communion with God.
However, we must be careful that we do not miss the greater gift of prayer anywhere and everywhere, regarding anything and everything. The Gospel of the Lord Jesus offers to us the permanent and abiding presence of God. "I am with you always (Matthew 28:20). While we may be able to more intensely focus and concentrate in the private place of prayer, the truth of the matter is that our Lord is no more with us there than along the busy avenues of our hectic lives. Thus, we need not wait to pray until we occupy a particular place or posture. We communicate with our Lord at the drop of a heart, as it were, being ready to "continue instant in prayer."
"The woman saith unto Him, Sir, I perceive that Thou art a prophet. Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and Ye say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe Me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father…. the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him" (John 4:19-23).
When I first became a believer, good and godly influences taught me that private times of communion with God would lead to continual communion with Him. Over time, however, I have discovered the reverse to be more the case. That is, viewing prayer in terms of continual communion actually leads to private devotional times. This more Biblical understanding of "continuing instant in prayer," or of prayer, at the drop of a heart, makes relationship with God the continually living experience He means it to be. Our Savior suffered and died to provide so great a gift. May we believe and live in such a manner as to appreciate the blessedness of God's abiding presence with us anywhere and everywhere, at anytime and all the time.
"Pray without ceasing."
(I Thessalonians 5:17)
Song: "At the Drop Of a Heart"
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