Take it to the Lord in prayer

by Thomas Prachar  

President Thomas Prachar

“I’m so far behind, I think I’m first.” My administrative assistant, Lil, muttered this phrase the other day in an attempt to describe how far behind she was when it comes to the work in our office. I started to list all the things I needed to do in the course of a week, ending with, “I’m busier than a one-armed paper hanger!” Lil corrected me, “No, you’re so far behind, you think you’re second—right behind me.”

Our days are certainly filled with lots to do. In our office, we not only have the normal, everyday work that needs to be done, but add to that convention planning, conference calls, meetings and travel, writing sermons and devotions some of which come at the last minute, and it makes for a busy time.

Some of us may not be quite as busy at work, but we feel the pressure more in our personal lives. Working to keep a relationship strong, rearing children, caring for an aging parent, driving the kids to music lessons and hockey practice, cleaning, laundry…the list is almost endless.

Of course, sometimes we feel very busy when in fact the opposite may be true. We think we need to complete a whole list of tasks today, and so feel tremendous stress and pressure. But often when we stop to prioritize our tasks, we realize that certain things can wait until tomorrow or next week. Suddenly, we feel as if a weight has been lifted from us.

And when our work absolutely needs to be accomplished by a certain date or time (like the writing of this column), we may need to become better managers of our time so that we don’t leave everything until the last minute.

Sometimes people think that our Lord is too busy to hear and answer our prayers. “He has so much to do, so many people for whom He cares, that I won’t bother Him with my problems.” Nothing could be further from the truth! Our Lord wants us to bring before Him all our requests for help at any time.

So often we complain that we don’t have the time to pray because we are so busy. Often, it is simply a matter of rearranging our priorities in life. The apostle Paul encourages us, “Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:17-18).

So often we complain that we don’t have the time to pray because we are so busy. Often, it is simply a matter of rearranging our priorities in life.

Our prayers have such an interesting way of lifting our spirits so that we are able more confidently to confront and handle our present challenges. When we take the time to pray, we discover that our Lord blesses us with the time we need in order to accomplish so many other priorities in life. “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 50:15).

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Rev. Thomas Prachar is President of the Central District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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