If You Didn't Pray Yesterday, Pray Today

Ann Arbor window in the Arcade

I'm doing 6 weeks of prayer, one hour a day, 5 days of week, with 170 people (100+ at Redeemer; 40 online; and 27 seminary students). This morning one person shared with me: "I feel like a failure. I haven't kept my prayer times this week. What should I do?"

My response is: Pray today. Find a time and place to meet with God today.

Then, do the same tomorrow.

Take this thing day by day.

I don't believe Father God is into calling us "failures." God is our Rescuer, our Redeemer. He loves us. God does call us to turn, to repent. There is a godly guilt, produced by his Spirit. But "failure" is a word from "the accuser of the brethren," not from God. So I would say to this person:

• When you go alone to meet with God and have conversations with him remember that getting solitary with God is radically counter-cultural. Nothing in the Western world values this or trains us for this.
• Remember what "prayer" is: talking with God about what we (you and he) are doing together.
• Remember that God is a God of new beginnings. Pick yourself up and start over. Build a prayer life.... today. Now. This is the day the Lord has made for relationship with him.
• Do the same... tomorrow.
• Over time, watch what happens. A holy, life-giving habit is being formed in you.