One-Minute Prayers

I was touched when a friend shared with me that she had done the one-minute prayer thing at least once today. I'm not sure how many times. She mentioned how it was good to take a mental break to focus on something positive each hour.

That is so true. I usually pray for longer than a minute. The point of the one-minute prayer is to thank God for each hour and in each hour—to stop all of the busyness for 60 seconds to talk to the Father. When things are going on all around you that you may or may not like or may or may not agree with, a little chat with a great, big God puts life into perspective. As I like to say, "In the grand scheme of things, who cares?" I don't say that in an apathetic way. I say it in a let's-get-things-in-proper-perspective way. Work is important. God, family, and friends are more important. Sometimes work is stressful and overwhelming, but we can take a minute to talk to the Prince of Peace.

Taking a minute to pray interrupts work or whatever else is going on to acknowledge our Creator, our heavenly Father. It's like singing with Stevie Wonder, "I just called to say I love you."

Taking one minute to pray opens the door and invites the One who is like no other into your situation. You're taking a minute to draw near to the Father.

He promises in His word,

Come near to God and he will come near to you. James 4:8a NIV

The Word also says,

The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him sincerely and in truth. Psalms 145:18 AMP

Pray with me:

Father, thank You for teaching us how to take a minute to let You into our day through prayer. Sometimes I am so busy with the cares of the world, that I forget about what's most important to me. But when I call upon You in truth and with sincerity of my heart by the name of Jesus and acknowledging who He is, You promise to be near me. When You are near, I can put my day into the proper perspective. Help me to sense Your nearness. Help me to sense Your peace.

One way that I can acknowledge You is with thanksgiving and praise. So thank You for this day. Thank You for my life. Thank You for people who love me. You're the one who loves me most. In the Bible, You tell Your people, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (from Jeremiah 29:11 NIV). You not only had plans for those people, but You have plans for all of Your people, including me. I can relax and trust You with my life because Your plans for me are good. And You are good. I just wanted to take a minute to interrupt this hour to acknowledge that You are good. Thank You for being near me. I just wanted to say, "I love You" and I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Amen.

You just prayed for one minute.