Brother
Lawrence (1614–1691) felt intimately close to God as he humbly scrubbed pots
and pans in the monastery kitchen. Certainly Brother Lawrence practiced
specific times of devotional prayer. But what he found more life-transforming
was prayer during the workday. In his devotional classic Practicing the
Presence of God, he says, “It is a great delusion to think our times of
prayer ought to differ from other times. We are as strictly obliged to cleave
to God by action in the time of action as by prayer in the season of prayer.”
In short, he advocated that we “pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17).
That’s a
helpful reminder, because sometimes we tend to compartmentalize our lives.
Perhaps we pray only during church worship, small-group Bible study, family
devotions, and personal quiet times. But what about during our workday? To pray
on the job does not mean we have to fall to our knees with clasped hands and
pray aloud. But it does mean that work decisions and relationships can be
brought to God throughout the day.
Wherever
we are and whatever we’re doing, God wants to be a part of it. When prayer
enters every aspect of our lives, who knows what God might do for His glory!
True
prayer is a way of life, not an emergency detour! (RBC)
