It’s not too difficult to start your day on the right track with the Lord. Unless you’re running late, then it’s fairly simple to make effort in the morning to read your Bible, pray in the shower, or listen to praise and worship music on the drive to drop off your kids at school. It’s not that hard to listen to a podcast on the commute to work or to an audio Bible in the car while sipping coffee or running errands.
But staying on the right track all day is a lot easier said than done, isn’t it?
Too often, I start my day on course, but find myself veering off around noon. By lunchtime, my peaceful morning is a vague memory, at best. I’m caught up in the stress of work, the rush of clients and phone calls and day-job duties, the concerns of kids calling from school with forgotten homework or low-grade fevers, or text arguments with my spouse or family member. I get distracted with how my outfit looks or how my makeup is wearing thin. I’m hungry and cranky and want a nap. My temper is shorter, and my patience is stretched. I start desiring to get away from people, rather than staying focused on adding them to God’s Kingdom.
I need a midday reset.
It’s been said “there’s no wrong way to pray,” and I agree. God knows our hearts and desires to hear our honesty. However, in the Bible, Jesus gave us a model prayer to pray that’s complete and all encompassing. It’s the perfect template to use as a midday prayer—to redirect our focus, remind ourselves what’s most important, and be filled and refreshed. It’s commonly known as "The Lord’s Prayer."
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"Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:7-15 (NKJV)
During your lunch hour, while on a break from your job, or anytime during the afternoon that you get a chance, try to take a moment and reset with a midday prayer.
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To start, praise God for who He is. Let yourself meditate for a moment on His greatness, His goodness, and His perfect character. Give Him glory for Who He is and What He’s done in your life. This can be thanking Him for specific blessings and gifts, or it could be a more generic praise. (Or both!) Praying in this way during the middle of the day will remind you how big God is and how small you are.
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Next, focus your attention away from your hectic day to God’s kingdom. Take a breath and ask the Lord to give you a fresh passion and renewed fire for ministry. Pray for those in your life who you know are lost. Ask the Lord to pursue their hearts, to bring His will about on earth as it is in Heaven. Praying this will reset your fervor for things eternal and make your morning stresses seem a lot smaller.
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Thank God for His provision in your life and ask Him for what you need. Share your heart and desires with Him. Intercede on the behalf of others in your life who have a pressing need. Ask for His will to be done for their good and for His glory. Remember that God provides one day at a time, in His perfect timing. Ask Him to give you peace that He will provide your daily bread as He always has before. Stopping to pray this will remind you that He is in control, and will release the stress you’ve accumulated during the day.
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Ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of any unconfessed sin in your life and acknowledge that before the Lord. Thank Him for His sacrifice on the cross, and take a moment to bask in the joy of your salvation. If there’s anything you’re holding against a brother or sister in Christ—be it your boss, your spouse, your ex, or your family—give that over to Christ and forgive them. If it’s too fresh or raw to feel possible, then simply ask the Lord to give you the desire to forgive. He’ll start that work in your heart. Praying this will lift burdens from your heart during the middle of your day.
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Pray next for protection and purity. Ask the Lord to keep you from temptation—while you’re at it, pray the same for your spouse or a close friend or family member—and be alert to evil around you. Sometimes enemy attacks are very subtle and sneaky. Praying to have discernment to recognize temptation, and the strength to resist it, goes a long way. It will reset your awareness in the daily battle against sin.
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Wrap it up by recognizing that all power and glory belongs to the Lord and the Lord alone. Tell Him that. Bask in that truth. It’s all His, forever. Praying this will remind you that God holds all things and is fully in control. You aren’t—so stop trying to be. You can go about the rest of your day glorifying Him without the burden of micro-managing everything around you. He’s sovereign, He’s good, and He’s got it.
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This prayer can take as long or as short a time as you have to dedicate to it. Even if it’s just during a bathroom break, a trip through the drive-thru, or a quick walk to get the company mail, take a moment and pray. Reset. Breathe in the Lord—and exhale grace for another day.
Betsy St. Amant Haddox is the author of fourteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. She resides in north Louisiana with her newlywed hubby, two story-telling young daughters, a collection of Austen novels, and an impressive stash of Pickle Pringles. Betsy has a B.A. in Communications and a deep-rooted passion for seeing women restored in Christ. When she's not composing her next book or trying to prove unicorns are real, Betsy can usually be found somewhere in the vicinity of a white-chocolate mocha. Look for her latest novel with HarperCollins, LOVE ARRIVES IN PIECES, and POCKET PRAYERS FOR FRIENDS with Max Lucado. Visit her at http://www.betsystamant.com./
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