Too many times, when someone says, “It’s time to pray,” the reply might be, “You mean it’s come down to that?” Why are prayer and meditation among the hardest “tasks” a Christian can do? After all, the God of the universe is on the other end of the line, and he desires to be with you. There are some who would rather read Leviticus twice than hunker down in prayer. Quality prayer and meditation require that we take time away from all the other things we normally do so we can pause to thank God for his goodness in our life and pray for others. And that’s really the first step in a life of consistent prayer and meditation: taking the time. There’s no other way around it. We just have to tough it out and do it.
Jesus’ example was to get secluded and get away from all the interruptions. That could mean leaving the cellphone in another room with the ringer down. I know, pretty drastic stuff these days. The best thing about being secluded is the silence. It can be hard, but it’s worth it. Have you tried it lately? A prolonged time of silence is like taking a shower after cutting the grass in a July heat wave. You’ll feel better, and you’ll be much more pleasing to be around
Once we are secluded and silent, then comes the toughest part: stillness of mind. Whether you’re a new Christian or a seasoned believer, keeping your mind from wandering is the biggest challenge. We have to push through because the reward is too great to pass up. The best part is receiving the peace that only Jesus can give. There are times when you’ll hear the Holy Spirit give clear direction for that certain situation in your life. Then it’s our turn to obey what we’ve heard. Our lives can be turned around simply by investing our time in the eternal. The first thing King David said in Psalm 1 is, “How <a href="https://christiancorner.us/2026/07/06/happy-independence-day-from-the-jwi/” title=”Happy Independence Day from the JWI”>happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand with sinners or sit with mockers but instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night.”
Jesus said, “When you pray, get in your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” It’s the reward of getting to know him better, the reward of getting the answers we need and the reward of standing in the gap for fellow believers who desperately need our intercession. The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” The God who spoke the world into existence is eagerly waiting for you to set aside time for prayer and meditation. He wants to talk to you. He wants to hear your requests.
Ken Staley is pastor of Faith Church of Pleasant Grove, which meets at 9:30 a.m., and Harrisville Methodist Church, which meets at 11 a.m. Both are Global Methodist congregations. PastorKenStaley@gmail.com
