I’ve been a swimmer since childhood, so I was caught off guard when panic tried to wedge itself between me and my destination. Knowing I could easily swim over to join my family and neighbors hanging out a short distance away, I had jumped from the boat into the lake. But about half-way there, I could hardly catch my breath. I felt like I was suffocating.
I paused. I looked back toward the boat, then forward to my husband and children who were playing in the water. With shortness of breath, both seemed too far to reach. “This is bad,” I reconciled with myself. I did not have the lung capacity to yell out for help. Besides, I envisioned how requiring a rescue would traumatize my family. I was wearing a life jacket and knew that ultimately I was okay. I just needed to stop fighting for breath. The struggle to simultaneously swim and breathe cost me more breath. I needed to stop swimming, but I was desperate to get to safety.
So I flipped onto my back, relaxed, and let my body float in the water’s caress. As I began to rest, my panting slowed and expanded into catchable breaths. To stave off panic and preserve my calm, I conservatively extended my arms like oars and gracefully rowed myself to the dock closest to my family. Wearing a gigantic smile of relief, I pulled myself up from the lake and onto the deck without anyone knowing how close we’d come to an aqua-drama.
Standing on my own two feet, gasping for air, I realized what had happened. “I think this life jacket is too tight!” I blurted out. I threw off the jacket and immediately felt my diaphragm expand by ten inches — or at least it felt that way. Can you believe it? The very apparatus designed to preserve life, when ill-fitted, seemed to squeeze the life out of me. The life jacket seemed to fit perfectly when I was boating, but the life preserver was the wrong fit for a cardio intense swim across the lake!
Isn’t that the case with so many things in our lives? The right intention with the wrong fit compromises purpose. We need and want most things to fit well — clothes, family cars, friendships, church communities, doctors, our children’s schools, our neighborhood, etc. When life’s conventions fit well, they serve us well. Something that is not the right fit can potentially be taxing.
I have found this to be true for my prayer life. Before my life shape-shifted with marriage and children, I could dedicate the beginning of each day to pouring over Scripture passages, lingering on inspiring lessons and engaging in lengthy conversations with Holy Spirit. That was my prayer life. Such a prayer life is often coveted as the gold standard, as it is perceived as “putting God first” and “ordering the day.” When I could start each day this way, it was great. But my more complex and family-centric life birthed a custom-fitted prayer life.
I no longer fit prayer into my day; I fit my day into prayer.
I move through my day conscious of my connection to the One who creates for and through me. Knowing I am an extension of God’s energy, love, and light each day, I become like an artist painting the day as God’s masterpiece. I rise like a ready writer eager to pen words that align the moments with God’s thoughts. I become like a sharpened sword rested in the grip of a skillful and wise warrior whose battle is already won. My day is prayer in motion — breathing, living, and creating.
Jesus showed us how our lives become faith, hope, and love realized when we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. Through Jesus’ days on earth, we see love for our neighbor actualized. When we rest our whole selves — soul, heart, mind and strength — in God’s intention, we become the embodiment of His prayers. We get to personify God’s purpose.
Because I loved my morning concentrated prayer time, my shift to this more custom-fitted prayer life was filled with insecurity. I wondered if eventually my day would fall apart. I wondered if I would fall apart. I wondered if praying this way would be enough or even good enough. But I have experienced that fitting my day into a prayer sustains me from moment to moment. Being perpetually conscious of God’s emerging design rewards me with rest, joy, focus, and renewed strength, which I get to extend to others.
Like a life jacket, prayer can sustain you beyond your own strength, and a custom-fitted prayer life will not only keep your head above water but expand your capacity to live beyond your imagination. Like anything designed to serve you, a prayer life fit for you will support God’s purpose through you.
Is your prayer life where you need it to be?
How can you custom fit your prayer life?
I no longer fit prayer into my day; I fit my day into prayer. -Lucretia Berry (@brownicity): Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
Lucretia,
I loved this post since it took me back to my childhood and swimming across a lake – I could relate! I have found that being in continual “conversation” with God, throughout the day, keeps me focused. I don’t know that I pray “constantly”, but I have certain routines that usher in the divine covenant of prayer. Having my quiet time of scripture and prayer first thing in the morning, starts my day off on the right foot. Joining in here at (in)courage reminds me of the women and prayer requests I’ve committed to praying for. When I walk my beagle, it’s become a prayer walk. Sure it would be easy to put in earbuds and zone out, but I find it is good to pray as I walk. Nature and convening with God are a powerful duo. Even stops at red lights, in my SUV sanctuary, give just enough time to utter a “breath prayer”. Praying like this has taken many years to cultivate, and some days go off the rails completely, but God still woos me back to my ongoing dialogue with Him. Awesome post and reminder! Aqua-drama lol…love it 😉
Blessings,
Bev xx
Bev!
Yes! This!
Together, you and I could walk and pray in nature, and change the world!…lol. Walking and praying is my favorite. I feel like I need room to move, to swing my arms, to move my feet, as if my movement adds power to my words.
Thank you for sharing and praying!
Shalom
LCB
I love the way you’ve turned “normal” life on its head here, Lucretia, and invited me into the practice of putting prayer first–then letting all the lesser things fall in around it.
Thank you Michele.
I feel like loving God with my ALL manifests differently each day. I have to work at not feeling anxious about the lack of routine. I love order, so sometimes, when the order is beyond my understanding, I have a tendency to try to order things instead of going with the spirit-led flow.
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
Alleluia
Pamela,
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
My morning time with coffee and my devotionals is the best part of my day. I need, however, to work on my prayer time and communication with God. Thank you for reminding me the importance of fitting my day into prayer.
Elizabeth.
You are welcome. I miss those days of having a quiet morning.
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
Thank you for this post. My prayer life is not where it should be. Your story has reminded me of this fact. I need to custom fit, ie cut out some deep prayer and reflection again, praying throughout the day and at night is proving not enough. Thank you for sharing your story it proves very useful and a teachable moment!
Jas
Jas.
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
This is exactly what I needed to hear today. Thank you.
Julie,
You’re welcome.
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
I think it is both. Starting the day with conversation with the Lord is the best way to start a day, and it isn’t about how long but making the connection, and then staying consciously aware all of each day that we can be in conversation throughout the day’s flow. I write about that in chapter one of my book First Breath of Morning!
Kathy!
‘First Breath of Morning!’ I LOVE IT!!!!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
I enjoy reading the posts on Incourage.me , but why is the type so light? I find it difficult to read. Please consider changing to a darker typeset. Thank you in advance.
Hi Karen.
Thank you for sharing your concern. I can pass this along to the technology team.
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
Lucretia, I love how you offer hope to women who just can’t fit that prayer time in the early morning hours. My kids have left home, but I have a tutoring job a few days a week, and I can’t possibly get up before it starts! I used to think my day would be ruined and my relationship with God would suffer if I missed a morning time, but really God wants us to walk with Him all day long.
Betsy,
I had a friend who felt so much shame because she could not wake early and spend an hour praying and reading scripture. Shaming herself first thing in the morning tainted the rest of her day. My heart broke for her and for those of us who begin our day with guilt regarding an expectation that God did not put upon us. We get to have an authentic connection and genuine communication with God. YAY!!
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
This was a wonderful way of looking at prayer, esp for a busy mom. Thanks for sharing!
Andrea,
I am so glad you were encouraged! As a busy mom, raising girls whose personalities clash throughout the day, praying this way, helps we stay level headed.
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
Lucretia,
There is no right way or time to pray. Bonnie Gray in her book “Whispers of Rest” talks about breath prayers. You breath in & say Jesus then breath out & say help me- or any words you want. God knows we are busy people & we can’t always have a quiet time first thing in the morning. We can start a conversation with Him & continue all day. I often get reminders & stop in my day to pray for others. My favorite time is in the shower. I make it dark & just talk to God while bathing. Prayer is simply having a conversation with Jesus. Start anytime & keep on going. He is always ready to hear from His children. One song I love is “Let Us Pray” by Stephen C. Chapman. The chorus states simply: Let us pray, let us pray, everywhere in every way Every moment of the day, it is the right time For the Father above, He is listening with love And He wants to answer us, so let us pray.
Blessings 🙂
Beth,
Showering was made for praying!…lol. Also, when I am sweeping, I tend to hear from God. I wonder what the connection is? I am so glad that we live connected to our Source! I pray that ALL would know this LOVE.
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
I needed to hear this. So many great nuggets of truth. Blessings to you!
Lazondral!
Your name is beautiful! It reads like a song.
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
“I rise like a ready writer eager to pen words that align the moments with God’s thoughts.” Beautiful, Lucretia. I want to live from this posture too.
Becky,
Thank you! I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB
Lucretia, I am moved by the wisdom you’ve shared – “My day is prayer in motion — breathing, living, and creating…When we rest our whole selves — soul, heart, mind and strength — in God’s intention, we become the embodiment of His prayers. We get to personify God’s purpose.” Love it!
Hi Sandra!
I am so glad you were encouraged!
Thank you for reading and praying!
Shalom
LCB