I hope through the posts in this series so far, you’ve been able to see how much you ARE ministering to those around you simply by doing your everyday tasks of taking care of your family and going about your normal chores.
Today, let’s talk about prayer.
I don’t think I need to tell you that prayer is important. And that prayer is effective. And that prayer helps us connect with God in an incredible way. My guess is that you already know those things.
I just want to encourage you to focus on prayer as a ministry. A ministry you can participate in no matter where you are and what you are doing. Even if you are 110 years old, paralyzed, unable to hear or speak or do anything else…you can still participate in the ministry of prayer. I love how God has given us this tool that is so limitless in its use.
There’s a great book I read once, Lord, Please Meet me in the Laundry Room. The author is a mom of many…some of her children have special needs. She talks simply and practically about how sometimes the best place for a woman to have one-on-one time with God is in the laundry room. Or in the shower. Or where ever you are…doing all of the things you always do.
I remember some of my most precious prayer time occuring during the middle of the night while I was nursing a baby. With a newborn and other little ones at the time…I didn’t have much time for other ministries…but I sure could pray. (And yes, sometimes I would doze off…and that was okay too.)
A friend of mine told me a few months ago that as she drives by someone’s house on her way to run errands or drop off her kids somewhere…she prays for the people who live there. My response was, “Oh! Do you drive by my house very often?!” She said, “Yes, as a matter of fact I do.” How wonderful to know that when she drives by my house, she prays for my family. I’ve begun to make that a practice now too as I’m driving around.
I realize this is idea of prayer as a ministry something you probably do anyway…but today I still want to emphasize constant prayer and remind us and challenge us to make the best use of our time to talk to God. There are so many “no-brainer” tasks we do everyday (like washing dishes, kneading bread, throwing laundry into the machine, sweeping the floor, sitting in the car waiting for the light to turn green)…we really should be using our “brain power” while we do those “no brainer” tasks to pray for others.
Pray for your husband. Pray for your kids. Pray for your extended family. Pray for your friends. Pray for your church. Pray for your church leaders. Pray for your community. Pray for your country. Pray for the lost. Pray for the sick. Pray for thr hurting.
Pray specifically. Use names. Pray with care. Pray humbly. Pray confidently.
God will meet you wherever you are to listen as you talk to him. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Kinda makes me want to go do a load of laundry. :)
Where and when are your best prayer times? How can you be more consistent in your prayer life?
Rosie says
I like to pray when I am driving too, and when I am walking around the neighborhood or walking around my yard for exercise.
But one of my favorite prayer times is in the midst of the stress of the day. I go to the bedroom, lock the door, and fall on my face on the floor for 3 or 4 or 5 minutes and commit myself and my day to God. (however much time I think I can take! Occasionally a very small child comes in with me and sits on my back.)
Daniel kneeled and prayed 3 times a day. So I’m shooting for that too!
Tarena says
I love to say “air prayers” when I am working throughout the day, but I also LOVE to journal my prayers. So encouraging to SEE how the Lord has answered prayers or what I was praying for only one short year ago!
Great post! I think I’ll go pray!
Donna says
Laura, I nearly wept with joy reading this!
I did not grow up Christian-ized.
I didn’t even know that Adam and Eve had kids!-much less what their kids’ names were!
The Lord saved me, miraculously and I have never EVER ceased to wonder…WHO PRAYED FOR ME?
Surely, SOMEONE called on the Lord on my behalf for Him to seek me out! -And to keep me ALIVE until He could save me!…I just can’t help but to believe that it was someone’s prayers, that called on His mercy, on my behalf!
We just never know, on this side, how our prayers can sway Heaven!
(Not only that, but REV.5:8 and 8:3 and 4)
Denai says
I love praying in the shower… of course it sounds funny when I say “OH I prayed for you in the shower today!”
I also found that when someone pops into your mind… like a long ago friend, a neighbor, that stranger you saw the day before… anyone… I pray for them…. For so long I would wonder… “HMMMM, I wonder why I just though of THEM?” Now I realize maybe they need a prayer thrown out there for them!!!! And believe me, I have sooo many random thoughts in a day, that no doubt, dozens are prayed for!
Lisa says
I pray throughout the day, at any given moment. I tend to pray alot while driving (and living in FL with alot of older drivers, prayer IS necessary!LOL), but I seem to pray alot in the car. Maybe because I listen to Christian radio and the songs “awaken” my need to pray and worship God!
vehement flame says
Thanks for ths post. This has been something I am working on. This is what I read on Monday: “Merton once told me to quit trying so hard in prayer. He said: ‘How does an apple ripen?It just sits in the sun.’ A small green apple cannot ripen in one night by tightening all its muscles, squinting its eyes and tightening its jaw in order to find itself the next morning miraculously large, red, ripe and juicy beside its green counterparts. like the birth of a baby or the opening of a rose the birth of true self takes place in God’s time. We must wait for God, we must be awake;we must trust in His hidden action within us.” From Merton’s Palace of Nowhere by James Finley. I have “pray” listed on my daily check list and I find that sometimes its the last thing to checked off- I feel like I’m cheating if my prayers are not done at a specific time set aside…I’m releived to see that others pray thru out the day as well…I still feel the need to have some one on one undistracted time…So hard with babies and such..
Roberta Anne says
I have really enjoyed these posts that have shown me that I have many ministries that grow from my home. I like to pray when washing the dishes and when I am done I like to kneel down in my kitchen and thank God for the wonderful miracle He did in my life when he make me a homemaker.
Thank you so much
Roberta Anne
Stephanie says
Besides personal devotion time, I try to pray for people as I happen to think of them during the day. Of course, my husband most of the time tops my thoughts, and I think a wife should especially pray for her husband throughout the day. A good time to think of people and pray for them is when I have a lot to iron or when I wash dishes.
The Southern Housewife says
Yes! Let us meet Him in our laundry room! :) It’s pretty private- no one wants to go in there so I know I could get privacy. hee hee :) Meet you there!
Melanie says
Thanks for another great reminder! I, too, send up prayers as I think of people, or things I’m worrying about. :)
Sherry says
I have a set prayer time in the morning with a prayer journal. I like to write down prayers that people have asked me for then I can not forget. I cross out those prayers that are answered with dates. It is awesome to see how God has answered prayers!
I also pray throughout the day for certain people as well.
toni says
Thanks so much for this artical!It was very encouraging!!
Pam says
Great post! Barbara Curtis is a favorite of mine!
bernita says
i am sitting here 6 oclock am looking up middle of night prayer of course i thought it was about 3 or 4 oclock, however i couldnt find too much on christian prayers there was all these weird sights and i was so blessed when i came across this one so thanks for the encouragement and for taking the stress off about prayer.