The last few blog posts have been quotes from the puritan pastor, Thomas Brooks, addressing the excuse that some Christians use to avoid spending private time in prayer. “I have too much to do to stop and spend quiet time in prayer.” Or there is, “There is much to do at my job, then there is the family, and there is also …”
These are made to condemn you but to make you aware of excuses that work their way in to your mindset and need to be kicked out. It is too easy to let the old flesh nature talk you out of the most important thing you can do in your waking hours.
I have two responses from Brooks that are pretty point-blank, black and white.
Closet prayer is either a duty or it is no duty. Now that it is a duty, I have so strongly proved, I suppose, that no man nor devil can fairly or honestly deny it to be a duty. And therefore, why do men cry out of their great business?
In his writings Brooks gives some scripture and historical illustrations for both of these responses. If you want to plunge into the subject of private prayer, I recommend purchasing this book.
That God did never appoint or design any man’s ordinary, particular calling to thrust private prayer out of door.
I believe that our occupations and daily business are given from God. If He gave you the job you have, and skills to do the job, surely He didn’t give these to you to use as an excuse to neglect time with Him. That is saying it straight.
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Brooks, T. (1866). The Complete Works of Thomas Brooks. (A. B. Grosart, Ed.) (Vol. 2, p. 207). Edinburgh; London; Dublin: James Nichol; James Nisbet and Co.; G. Herbert.
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