The Praying That Comes After We're Done Praying

1 Tim 4:15. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Paul the apostle wrote this sentiment to Timothy, a younger Pastor of the church at Ephesus, in Greece. He gave us four thoughts that could really help us in our spiritual journey today: “meditate,” “entirety,” “progress,” and “evidence.” Wow! Four! That’s a lot, so we’ll keep it brief.

Meditate. Our world doesn’t have time for meditation these days! We are so busy. Several decades ago, Congressmen would stand on the floor of the Capitol and give speeches warning against the problems our society would face someday if the internet and other technologies achieved mainstream use. “What would we do with all of our extra time?” they would ask. Such extra time never seems to come. To meditate is to make time for God. It means we don’t just read or listen or sing or serve. It means that we also make time to get alone with Him, to reflect, to dwell, to consider…with no headphones on and no remote control in hand.

Entirety. We live in a fractionalized culture. Multi-tasking is as American as work and as biological as breathing. It’s become the norm. What do we do in “entirety?” Perhaps we could start by doing the spiritual journey that way, and let it bleed out into the other areas of our lives, rather than vice-versa.

Progress. Notice he didn’t say “competition.” We’re not competing against each other to see who can grow the most. We’re not competing against our neighbors to see who’s the most religious. But rather, our goal is to make progress in our spiritual growth. Consider where you were spiritually last year at this time: has there been progress? How ‘bout five years ago at this time. has there been progress? How ‘bout next year at this time: will there be progress?

Evidence. For years now, even decades, many people have thought of “spreading the Christian message” as having the ability to articulate it to a suspecting and even oppositional world that doesn’t want to hear our message. Well who wants to do that! Paul, though, said let your “preaching,” if you will, have to do with your spiritual focus and intensity, your meditation and progress that’s noted by others in the entirety of your life, and that is what will preach, that is what will be attractive, that is what will cause others to inquire as to Who it is we follow and how it is they can find out more.

A prayer for leaders: “Help me to make time and enjoy meditating upon your good Word, Oh Lord. Help me to give myself entirely to you. Help me to actually have progress, that others notice, not for my esteem but for the advancing of your message and your work. And help my life to be evidence of Your love and Your power to those around me. I would be so fulfilled and would feel so much purpose if that were to happen Lord! In Jesus’ name, Amen.”