Pray First
Show me your ways, Lord teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Psalm 25:4-5
I have met Christians who go through their days and only pray when trouble or temptations occur. What do you think would happen if we prayed before trouble or temptations could occur? We often know what we are facing each day and what may cause us trouble or tempt us toward sin. If we pray first about these upcoming events, the Lord will help us to be ready to handle any event we pray for.
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:13). The Holy Spirit knows what is to come, therefore we are to pray in advance for the Lord to prepare us for any anything we may encounter today. If we pray, the Spirit will prepare us for any situation that may occur.
When we ask the Lord for guidance we pray first, especially if we know in advance what we are about to encounter. One may pray for patience to not get angry in traffic; or maybe you have a stressful meeting today and you pray for wisdom and understanding. Whatever you are facing it is always beneficial to make it a habit to pray in advance. The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged (Deuteronomy 31:8). Since the Lord goes before us it is to our advantage to always remember to pray for things in the future.
In our ministry to the non-believing world, it is essential that we ask the Lord to put people in our paths who are ready to hear the Word. Similarly it is vital to ask the Lord to guide us in the Spirit as we minister to each other. We need to ask God to give us souls to minister to, otherwise we may get wrapped up in our own thoughts and never notice someone who needs an encouraging word.
Christians who are on fire for the Lord are proactive in their prayers because they recognize their need for the Lord to prepare them for whatever lies ahead. They pray in advance for everything they do: Driving, talking to others, or working. In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps (Proverbs 16:9). We must plan our days through the Spirit and pray in advance of every event of the day for the Lord to direct our steps.
Today, walk in obedience, communing with the Lord and praying for his guidance in the moment. Pray also for the Lord’s guidance for future events of the day. The Lord will prepare you in advance, in accordance to the specifics of your prayer, and he will also provide what he knows you will need. So walk confidently today because you have prayed in advance for the day’s events, and you know the Lord will carry you through with victory.
Let’s Pray: Lord I pray and trust you to carry me through this day. Thank you for being with me every moment of each day and for your willingness to guide me in the Spirit to be a light for Christ. Remind me to pray for everything I face each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen