I prayed today, but not until around 12:30pm. 

That’s a good start.  So far, 3 days into my new disciplined life of prayer, I am 3 for 3.  I have prayed every day.  I feel good about that, particularly since I’m coming off a two-week prayer fast.  I’m doing very well to have prayed everyday for three days in a row.  And I’m finding that practicing this discipline is helping to return my focus to God, and to begin to follow God as He guides me through these life changes.

But I want to get to the point where I BEGIN my day with prayer.  Now, I’m not saying there’s a right or wrong time of day to pray.  God is always with us, and hopefully, we’re talking to God throughout the day; kind of a running dialogue or running commentary.  And what’s most important is that you pray, whether it’s morning, noon, or night.

However, at least for me, I want to be able to begin my day with prayer as a way of orienting my entire day around God.  I think doing that would set the tone for all of my thoughts, my actions, my decisions, etc. to be centered in God, and based on God’s will for me.

Yet, I think that’s easier said than done, at least for me.  Even though I’m praying every day to God now, I’m still trying to keep my distance from Him a bit.  Although I could say that today I didn’t pray until 12:30pm because I was so busy doing this and that, I think the real truth is that I was trying to put off prayer.  That way I had a few hours to live life “my way” before I had to face God and be reminded of His will for me.  It’s funny how my mind works that way.

So I give myself credit for praying, but I want to reach the point where I don’t even want to begin my day without first spending time alone with God.  Knowing me, it may take some time to get to that point.  A long time.  But knowing God, it may not.

Like I said, this prayer stuff ain’t easy.