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| With Palmer Theological Seminary Doctor of Ministry Graduates |
This summer I've been calling Jesus-followers to pray 30-60 minutes a day, five days a week. I am doing this because I feel God has called me to it. So, I am obeying. I love calling people into a prayer life. And, I receive little persecution for this, since to come against a call to prayer is clear heresy. But there is resistance.
Is it too much to ask for 30-60 minutes of time with God, 5 days a week? No, it is not. The truth is, it is asking too little. If I, as Linda's husband, only talked with her 30-60 minutes a day, 5 days a week (thus going two entire days not communicating with her at all), then we've got a weak marriage. Use this as an analogy for the Bride of Christ and the implication is the same; viz., there are churches that are weak because they are made of up of prayerless people and prayerless leaders. I'm not wanting to judge here. This is a report from the front, as I have had many pastors and people confess this to me.
Asking 30-60 minutes, 5 days a week, is an attempt to kick-start a relation ship with God. Yes - a relation ship. A ship of relations. A community of people in close, abiding connectedness to Christ, and therefore to one another.
This is a little match trying to light a lasting, unquenchable fire. Is this possible? I know it is. I have seen it happen in the lives of people.
I can see it now, happening in you. You, in a love-relationship with your Redeemer, no longer struggling to "find time" with your Maker because He has become your great love.
I see you, in community, sailing forward on the Relation Ship.
