Pacing Yourself through Prayer

“I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.” Psalms 143:6 (NIV)

One of my mentors, Dr. Adrian Rogers, who is now in heaven, taught me how to PACE myself for each new day. Using the acrostic PACE, I lift my hands each morning and pray, “Lord, I PRAISE You! I accept Your ACCEPTANCE of me! I surrender to Your CONTROL! I EXPECT great things to happen today!”

When you pray, your physical posture can intensify your focus. When you spread out your hands toward heaven, you are demonstrating through your physical posture an attitude of total surrender. You are expressing your dependence upon God and upon His daily provision. You are acknowledging His abundance and your desperation.

Does your soul thirst for God? Have you ever gone through a dry season spiritually? Jesus is the Bread of Life and He provides Living Water for your soul. Jesus is your Shepherd and He restores your soul (Ps. 23:3). As you put your trust in God, He will show you the way you should go (Ps. 143:8).

• “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God.” Psalms 42:1 (NIV)
• “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’” John 4:13-14 (NIV)

Commit to PACE yourself each day. Consider lifting your hands toward heaven as you praise God, as you accept His acceptance of you, as you surrender to His control, and as you expect great things to happen today. God loves you and God is for you! Express your love to Him. PACE yourself through prayer!

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell