I’ve long struggled with my intercessory approach to the Lord. My petitions have been narrowly confined to the immediacies of everyday living—and to the exclusion of most everything else. However, I recently discovered the extraordinary value of the ordinary.
I needed something to help me get out of this rut so that I could pursue the larger aims Jesus has for me. I needed a new routine before bowing my head. Rather than just jumping right in and unloading all my burdens as I typically do, I now take preparatory steps to ready myself.
The one that stands out is probably the simplest. I review a note scribbled on the inside cover of my Bible that reads:
Request from Jesus: that I would desire what He desires, I would love what He loves, I would despise what He despises, I would find increasing joy in what honors Him, and I would follow Him in faith.
Though it felt mechanical at first—and still does somewhat—this daily reminder helps prepare both my heart and mind. It gets the focus off me and onto the Lord before I even seek His face. My quiet times are more life-giving now than ever before.
If your prayer life is in some type of spiritual rut, spend time thinking about practical ways to address it. The Lord can take the ordinary and produce extraordinary results.
GREG GROTEWOLD lives in Oakdale, MN, with his wife and two sons. He works in the financial services industry.
