Blogging Challenge - Day 2

Well day two of blogging! To not have class today I feel like it was pretty packed with stuff. I mean sure I slept until 10...or 11. But after that I went and ate Mama G's with Robert Hudson and Katy-Jo Tunks and after that I had to take the MAPP exam. The MAPP wasn't as hard as it was just pure dumb. I didn't feel like sitting at that computer screen reading passages of random literature and then answering questions. The nerd did come out of me during the math parts though, mostly because I enjoy math and am actually good at it. After that was the dreaded Trop layout! I need to give a shout out to Ed Bailey for taking one of my pages, which made my workload a little less and tons less stressful.

Now on to what I'm really supposed to be blogging about. It's days like to day that make me feel like Israel in the Old Testament, as far as my prayer life goes. While things were going good they didn't worry about God, but as soon as an enemy showed up and Israel started to come under trial they would turn to God. He, in his awesome mercy, would deliver them. *Think about that for a second* God, knowing they would turn from him as soon as they were delivered, still loved them enough to deliver them. So what does all that have to do with my prayer life? Well It seems that some day's, like today, I get 'too busy' (I mean really?!? I slept until 10 today! thats not busy) and I just don't find myself praying throughout the day. Other days I'm constantly praying (not particularly because something is going wrong, it's just I get the urge). And on days I'm constantly in prayer I feel so much closer to the presents of God. Who would have thought it? Talking to the one who created all thing will actually make you feel closer to Him? (that was full of sarcasm, if you couldn't tell) I just want to shake myself sometimes when I over look simple truths like this, especially on days like today when I had more than enough time to spend more time with Jesus.

So I figured I'll share some practical ways we as students can use our time wisely to pray. First, on the walk/drive to class. For me I love my iPod but my walk to class isn't even long enough to listen to a whole song most of the time, plus the time it takes to put in the headphones and find a song I want. So instead of wasting that time use it productively. Second, how about while you wait for a teacher to get into class. If your professors are like mine being on time is the exception. So instead of surfing the net for 3 min, why not send some prayers up to God? Third, how about in the shower/bathtub? I mean, I like to sing in the shower like the next person, but thats more lost time. Finally, how about time in between classes? This could even be a more extended time. You could even pull out a Bible and make some notes on what you read. None of these should take the place of a regular quiet time. These are just suggestions to go along with that normal time spent with our Heavenly Father.

I heard a great sermon by Pastor John Piper about prayer that changed my outlook on prayer and has greatly helped my prayer life: http://www.desiringgod.org/resource-library/sermons/be-devoted-to-prayer. I hope you will take time to read/listen to this sermon and be devoted to prayer.

Counting all things loss,

Timothy Mathis