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Pray Continually

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says to pray continually. This blog is an opportunity to do just that.  Highlighting different guides and styles for prayer.  Please feel free to comment below about your own personal experience with this prayer or any questions you have regarding praying.

Mustard Seed Prayer

"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches."

Matthew 13:31-32 (NIV)

"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

Optional activity to assist prayer:

Supplies:

  • paper - preferably cardstock
  • mustard seed
  • hole punch
  • ribbon

Create a bookmark by cutting the paper into a 2.5" strip. Glue the mustard seed to the bottom of the narrow paper. If you don't have a mustard seed, no worries, just draw a small dot. Punch a hole in the other end of the narrow paper, tie a ribbon through it.

From the seed (or dot) write out the two above verses making the words form the shape of a tree. If you are feeling extra creative, draw some birds nesting in the branches.

On the back side of the bookmark, write the following words equally distanced apart:

size

success

surprise

subtlety

slowness

Now you can use the bookmark as a guide and reminder for prayer.

What/how to pray:

Use the words that represent the mustard seed to guide your thoughts and prayers:

size

The mustard seed is small, tiny in fact, like many amazing plants in creation. The seed, like a prayer, an act of kindness, or words spoken in love, may seem insignificant, but this is what grows to create a home for many to rest and find comfort in. A small start leads to the unending kingdom of God. This is a reminder to us that nothing is impossible for God, in His great plan.
Write down some of the worries that lay on your heart, or dreams that you feel are too big for you or for God. Pray for faith to believe in what you cannot see.

success

God's definition of success is often different than ours. Think about the b-attitudes:

Blessed are:

    • the poor in spirit
    • those who mourn
    • the meek
    • those who hunger and thirst for righteousness
    • the merciful
    • the pure in heart
    • the peacemakers
    • the persecuted

How are you measuring success? Are there areas in your life that you have turned success into an idol, and will stop at nothing to reach your goals? Ask the Lord to define success for you and chase after him, writing down the direction God wants you to go.

surprise

If you google the mustard tree, it is quite amazing that such a large plant comes from such a small seed (like many amazing plants and trees in creation). And what a gift to the birds that perch in it or the passersby who find shade and rest beneath it. Think of moments when you were surprised by a great gift, thank God for these moments. This is true for many plants that come from little tiny seeds. 

subtlety

When the world was looking for the sign of the saviour, they were expecting someone who would come with a bang and rid the world of all the things they did not want. But Jesus came as a humble baby, weak and small. Through His life, death was defeated and the Kingdom of God began, relationship with God is restored. Big things do happen subtlety, and God works in ways we do not expect. Open up your eyes to see his wonders, and pray for the faith to believe, when you cannot see. Write down some subtle ways you have experienced God.

slowness

The mustard tree does not grow overnight, it takes time and patience.
Write down some areas in your life where you could use some patience and pray for God to provide.
Are there times when you are too busy, moving too fast? Pray for sabbath and rest in Christ.

Now place the bookmark in a book you have on the go, or someplace you will see, use it to remind you to have faith in a God who can do amazing things, no matter the size of it's beginning, who defines what true success is, who surprises us with great things, who subtlety performs miracles, and who calls us to rest in Him.

Thank you for praying,

for turning your eyes and heart to the Father who is able to do more than we could hope or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). May you come to know Jesus more, be blessed, and be a blessing as you pray.

Do you have mustard seeds in your spice rack?

While reflecting on the scripture, can you imagine what the Kingdom of God is like?

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Prayer and Praise
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