Quick Backdrop
This morning, I saw a praying mantis on my front porch. It got me thinking. In fact, consider the praying mantis for a minute. Go ahead. Just for a minute. It’s a weird, big bug, not a common insect. Because it’s likely you haven’t seen one of these strange bugs since elementary school, the thought of one may create a little nostalgia. So, for the next few minutes, we’re going to see if the thought of one may create some inspiration.
The praying mantis’ folded front legs keep the insect in a posture suggestive of prayer, thus giving it its descriptive name. You can’t help but think about prayer when you see this bug (unless of course you are seeing the female mantis devour her spouse after mating, but that’s another devotional for another time).
The What
Now consider us, believers, followers of Christ. One of the most common postures we are to assume, according to Scripture, is a posture of prayer. In fact, similar to the bug, it probably should be in our name.
Take a look at a few verses below from the New Testament. These are short looks into Scripture passages, but each reference to prayer adds to the picture showing us the essential role prayer is to play in our lives. As you read each verse, pause on the descriptions of prayer and let each one sink into your heart.
“Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them they always should pray and not give up” (Luke 18:1).
“They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with His brothers” (Acts 1:14).
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Rom. 12:12).
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people” (Eph. 6:18).
“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful” (Col. 4:2).
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18).
The So What
After you’re read the passages, take a minute to write down the words that describe prayer in these passages.
As you can see from your list, prayer isn’t something we are to do randomly or haphazardly. It’s not to be a compartment of our lives that we look into occasionally. Prayer is to be part of our daily thoughts, feelings, reactions. In short, like the praying mantis, we need to live in a constant posture of prayer. Obviously we’re not going to walk around continuously with our hands folded, but we can walk around with the hands of our hearts folded—reflecting the persistency and consistency of prayer that’s expressed in the passages you just read.
Seal the Deal
Take a look at the list of words from these passages that describe prayer. As you think about how you might apply these verses to your life, your first inclination might be to say something such as, “I need more prayer time,” but let yourself be more specific. Take the descriptions and actions of these passages seriously. Ponder those words: continual, always, faithful, all kinds. Think about how you can use these words to create a posture of prayer. Here are some suggestions:
• Starting today, think continual and always by integrating prayer into every activity. Each time you start something, pray. Each time you stop something, pray (Luke 18:1; 1 Thess. 5:16-17).
• Be faithful in prayer by setting a prayer alarm at the same minute of each hour of the day (Rom. 12:12).
• Pray all kinds of prayers. Use your imagination. Picture Jesus doing what you’re doing. Pray aloud. Pray with your eyes open. Pray while you walk. Pray at an altar (Eph. 6:18).
If you need a visual reminder, you probably can find an image of a praying mantis quite easily. It would make a cool wallpaper for your phone.
