So Joshua made flint knives for himself, and circumcised the sons of Israel…

  - Joshua 5.3

The assiduous observance of the canonical hours is regarded as primary. The sages regard the beginning of the day and the end of the night as the correct times for the celebration of Morning Prayer.

  - The Rule of Ailbe, Irish, 8th century[1]

It’s crucial to note the ways God insists on keeping first things first for all who would engage in the business of His covenant and Kingdom.

Consider the case of Moses (Ex. 4.24-26): Here he was, marching off to do some big work for the Lord, some big God’s-covenant-deal, and he hadn’t even taken the first covenant step of circumcising his sons! He was no doubt grateful to have a faithful wife to remind him of his duty.

Joshua would not make the same mistake. He understood that the work of leading people into the promised land of God’s covenant could not begin until a right spiritual orientation was achieved by all concerned. Circumcision would have reminded every Israelite warrior that he was different, he was set apart, he belonged to God.

But circumcision had its limits as a “first things” item. The lesson for us today is to make sure that, whatever God calls us to in serving Him each day, we make sure to take care of first things first.

Prayer is how we maintain that first-things-first orientation each day. Paul’s command that we pray without ceasing is not mere rhetoric (1 Thess. 5.17). Jesus taught as much as well (Lk. 18.1). The Christian ideal for a life of prayer is of prayer as a kind of envelope in which we go about our day, always in the presence of the Lord, and ever open to hearing or conversting with Him.

Prayer is always a first thing, one that we can resort to for renewal and refreshment throughout the day. This was the practice of the saints of the Old and New Testaments, as well as throughout the course of Christian history.

Prayer can become a merely perfunctory duty if we’re not careful – working through some formula or list, just to check it off and get on with the day.

But if we enter into prayer for what it is – a time of sweet dialog and communion with our Lord – then we can realize its power to orient our lives to Kingdom priorities, refresh our souls with Kingdom food, and lead us into our every next-steps with Kingdom power in our sails.

We are not ready to do the work of the King unless we are properly set apart and oriented to His unseen throne (Col. 3.1-3). And the place to achieve that separateness and orientation is in prayer. But not just first thing in the morning; rather, first thing throughout the day.

Many have found it helpful, in keeping prayer the first thing in their lives, to set particular times for prayer throughout the day – what the ancients referred to as the “hours of prayer.” Keeping the hours of prayer – set times of meeting with the Lord throughout the day – allows us to hang our day on prayer, to retreat to oases of spiritual refreshment amid the often desert dry activities of our mundane lives, and to find in so doing a Kingdom orientation to everything we do.

You might try this yourself. Pick two or three times to set aside ten to fifteen minutes for communion with the Lord in prayer. Bring a verse of Scripture to guide your time, or a stanza from a hymn or psalm. Use the time to reflect on the day thus far and to prepare for what’s yet to come. Focus on Jesus, exalted in glory, and just adore Him in silence. Listen for the Spirit to direct your next steps in following the Lord.

Set times to meet the Lord in prayer, then work hard to keep them assiduously.

Psalm 55.16-19 (Bread of Life: “Break Thou the Bread of Life”)
Lord, I will call on You, answer and save!
Morning and evening too, my voice I raise.
Grant me Your peace, O Lord; answer my foes!
All who reject God’s Word He overthrows.

How do I do this, Lord? Show me the way to remember to meet with You in prayer throughout the day.

Help for your prayers
Our bookstore provides resources to help you to prepare for a life of keeping first things first through prayer, The Poetry of Prayer provides keen insights to the nature and practice of prayer from 17^th century poet George Herbert. God’s Prayer Program can you show you how to begin praying the psalms. And The Ailbe Psalter features all the psalms set to familiar hymn tunes, which you can sing during your hours of prayer.

If Men Will Pray offers a 30-day regimen of prayer for men to use together, following Paul’s instructions in 1 Timothy 2.1-8. Watch the video here.

And John Nunnikhoven’s three books on praying the psalms can also help in making those inspired words your own language for prayer.

Your gifts and prayers help make this ministry possible. Use the contribute button to share with The Fellowship of Ailbe via credit card or PayPal, or send your gift to The Fellowship of Ailbe, 19 Tyler Dr., Essex Junction, VT 05452.       

T. M. Moore, Principal
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All Psalms for singing from The Ailbe Psalter. Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.