Febuary 20: Insight Post by Karenna Rowenhorst
Friday Insight Post
by Karenna Rowenhorst
Do you like to keep a schedule? For some of us, a schedule feels comforting and secure. We like knowing what to expect and how our day will flow. For others, having a set schedule feels limiting and almost constricting: like the amount of time in the day is quite possibly shrinking when we look at all the tasks and appointments that are set for the day.
I started thinking about schedules and prayer when I read one of the verses for this week’s focus on prayer:
“But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.
Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the
Lord hears my voice.” Psalm 55:16–17 (NLT)
In this Psalm, is David talking about having a constant rhythm of prayer, or is he talking about something else when he mentions “morning, noon, and night?” Praying at specific times of the day, together with other believers, is an ancient Christian practice that is as old as the Bible. The Liturgy of the Hours, as it is known today, is based on the Jewish custom of praying throughout the day, especially at morning and evening. Jesus and the early church followers prayed at the third, sixth, and ninth hours of the day. You can see the importance of daily scheduled prayer in this Psalm:
“I will praise you seven times a day
because all your regulations are just.” Psalm 119:164 (NLT)
We need regular reminders to prioritize our thinking and to acknowledge God’s role in our lives. There is also the benefit of community in knowing our brothers and sisters are praying at the same time we are. It reminds us that we are not alone on this journey and reminds us that our sufferings are not the only sufferings that exist.
There is something special about the early morning and the evening in our daily rhythms that can call us to hear from God and to speak to him. My connection to God may have more openness and possibility when I first get up, and to acknowledge God’s presence and power before I sleep helps me to stay grounded – literally – in what sustains me. The Psalms say this:
“From where the sun rises to where it sets,
you inspire shouts of joy.” Psalm 65:8b (NLT)
I learned recently about a community of brothers that form an ecumenical community in Taize, France. It began in the 1940’s as a place of refuge for those fleeing the devastation of the Second World War and continues as a place of reconciliation for all Christians. They make daily prayer one of their mainstays. It holds the community together.
Here is one of their prayers, written by Brother Matthew:
“Faithful God, help us to wait for you in silence and in peace. You are our sure support, and from you comes our hope, the hope of a life in you which has neither beginning nor end, the fulness of an overflowing love.”
I’m praying today that we will examine our hearts and our schedules and ask God to show us the purpose and blessing of regular prayer. A rhythm of prayer is a way to experience the ongoing presence of God in our lives. Will you take a step towards that today?
Karenna Rowenhorst
Senior Director of Education
New Hope Church
Lorton, Virginia
www.newhope.org