How our minds think plays a big role in how we connect with God in prayer.
And Peter Lord, author of Hearing God, says that we can change the way we think to better hear our Lord.
Lord declares that "we will inevitably become what we think about all day". That can be a problem if our thinking is wrong. It is especially a problem if we base our prayers on wrong thinking.
"My attitude at any given time is determined by my thoughts," he writes. "Whether I am afraid, loving, anxious, peaceful or filled by any other such feeling, it is all dependent on my thoughts."
The solution, Lord says, is to fill our thoughts with truth - truth about God and from God.
The writer of Hebrews said long ago that we believers should be "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith". (Hebrews 12:2)
And, in his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul said: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
Lord says that we often draw our thoughts from our subconscious where we bury our experiences of life. Frequently, we interpret our experiences wrongly so that when we turn to our past to base current decisions, we make mistakes - sometimes serious mistakes. If our reasoning is founded on bad thinking, we will come to faulty conclusions.
But the author offers hope.
"How do you get the air out of a glass? By filling it with water. How do you get rid of wrong and untrue thoughts? By filling your mind with true and right thoughts from God."
The mind is able to receive new information - sometimes changing long-held opinions, writes Lord.
"When we recognize and accept the appropriate thoughts as truth from God, we repent. We change our minds."
But if we are to get God's input, we have to spend time with God - reading his word, meditating and conversing with him.
That is the big issue with me and with other Christians, too. Lord is calling us to spend every waking hour in talking with God and listening to him.
That may seem impossible, but Christians have done it through the ages. One great example is Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French monk whose prayer life is described in a little book called The Practice of the Presence of God.
Brother Lawrence knew from the Bible that Jesus was always with him. So, in the ordinary course of daily chores, he spoke with Christ, sharing his needs and worshiping the Lord. He did everything - even the jobs he disliked - out of love for Christ.
It took discipline for him to make this a daily habit. But eventually it became second-nature to him and this humble monk had a profound impact on the people around him. People came to him for spiritual counsel.
Frank Laubach, an American educator and missionary, developed what he called "The Game With Minutes" after reading The Practice of the Presence of God. The game suggests practical ways we can be in God's presence for at least one minute every hour - either imagining Christ with us or sharing thoughts with him or praying for others.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul says we are to train hard as we run the race of life to win a reward from Christ in heaven.
I want to have a close relationship with God. My challenge is to be disciplined and open my mind and thoughts to the Lord throughout the day.
And Peter Lord, author of Hearing God, says that we can change the way we think to better hear our Lord.
Lord declares that "we will inevitably become what we think about all day". That can be a problem if our thinking is wrong. It is especially a problem if we base our prayers on wrong thinking.
"My attitude at any given time is determined by my thoughts," he writes. "Whether I am afraid, loving, anxious, peaceful or filled by any other such feeling, it is all dependent on my thoughts."
The solution, Lord says, is to fill our thoughts with truth - truth about God and from God.
The writer of Hebrews said long ago that we believers should be "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith". (Hebrews 12:2)
And, in his letter to the Philippians, the apostle Paul said: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8)
Lord says that we often draw our thoughts from our subconscious where we bury our experiences of life. Frequently, we interpret our experiences wrongly so that when we turn to our past to base current decisions, we make mistakes - sometimes serious mistakes. If our reasoning is founded on bad thinking, we will come to faulty conclusions.
But the author offers hope.
"How do you get the air out of a glass? By filling it with water. How do you get rid of wrong and untrue thoughts? By filling your mind with true and right thoughts from God."
The mind is able to receive new information - sometimes changing long-held opinions, writes Lord.
"When we recognize and accept the appropriate thoughts as truth from God, we repent. We change our minds."
But if we are to get God's input, we have to spend time with God - reading his word, meditating and conversing with him.
That is the big issue with me and with other Christians, too. Lord is calling us to spend every waking hour in talking with God and listening to him.
That may seem impossible, but Christians have done it through the ages. One great example is Brother Lawrence, a 17th century French monk whose prayer life is described in a little book called The Practice of the Presence of God.
Brother Lawrence knew from the Bible that Jesus was always with him. So, in the ordinary course of daily chores, he spoke with Christ, sharing his needs and worshiping the Lord. He did everything - even the jobs he disliked - out of love for Christ.
It took discipline for him to make this a daily habit. But eventually it became second-nature to him and this humble monk had a profound impact on the people around him. People came to him for spiritual counsel.
Frank Laubach, an American educator and missionary, developed what he called "The Game With Minutes" after reading The Practice of the Presence of God. The game suggests practical ways we can be in God's presence for at least one minute every hour - either imagining Christ with us or sharing thoughts with him or praying for others.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-26, Paul says we are to train hard as we run the race of life to win a reward from Christ in heaven.
I want to have a close relationship with God. My challenge is to be disciplined and open my mind and thoughts to the Lord throughout the day.
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