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In the 1960s, I read a book entitled Are you running with me, Jesus? (Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965) by Episcopalian (Anglican) priest, Malcolm Boyd. Interesting title, isn't it? Here is an excerpt that will give you an idea of what the book is about.
- It's morning, Jesus. It's morning, and here's that light and sound all over again. Where am I running? You know these things I can't understand. It's not that I need to have you tell me. What counts most is just that somebody knows, and it's you. That helps a lot. So I'll follow along, okay? But lead, Lord. Now I've got to run. Are you running with me, Jesus?
I lived in Knox College, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, for six years between 1956 and 1961 — three years in undergrad at the University of Toronto and three years studying at Knox College. I had not had much of an intentional prayer life before then, so I welcomed the opportunity to participate in the daily chapel services mid-morning, Monday to Thursday, and a residence prayer group involving 6-7 of the residents (theologues and students in other faculties) which met Monday to Thursday for a half-hour of prayer at 10 p.m. I seldom missed either opportunity. In the evening prayer group, we just prayed about our lives and for each other and for whatever happened to be going on in the world around us at the time.
During the early 1960s, I was sitting in a classroom at Knox College listening to Dr. David Hay lecture on prayer. Dr. Hay usually stuck pretty close to his notes. This one day, however, he looked up from the lectern and mused out loud, "I wonder what would happen if we prayed with our eyes open."
- Running with Jesus
- Sharing our lives with others in a supportive environment, in which we are learning from others how to pray
- Praying with our eyes open
Do you see where this is going?
Prayer is about life — about life lived in the presence of God. We may stop or retreat for intensive "seasons" of prayer — daily, more frequently, or perhaps occasionally — but every moment of our living is "prayer time".
Or it can be! We can invite Jesus to run with us wherever we go and whatever we do, or better yet, we can run with Jesus. "Am I running with You, Jesus?"
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – Always be joyful and never stop praying. Whatever happens, keep thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do. (CEV)
Prayer: We're praying on the run, today (maybe every day), God. And we are praying every moment. We are living every moment conscious of Your presence with us. Thank You that we can do that. Amen.
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Thank you so much.
Great perspective, John.
Thanks for the memories, John.
Perfect challenge John! Blessings
Thought-provoking message John! Thank you and take care.
Interesting story and a good way to look at prayer, John. Thanks and God bless!
Thanks for this devotional. Every moment of our living is ” Prayer time.”
Blessings.
Yes! May we always run just behind Jesus following Him! Thanks for sharing this devotional with us. Blessings.
Great writing. You’ve put into words what I’ve long-time thought. I will share this with my prayer group and family. Thank you. Keep well in beautiful Alberta.
Delighted to be reminded of Boyd these days, John. He has a lot of good ways to think about things I would’ve never considered. Your devotional brings some of them up again.
John,
Interesting devotion. Yes, we do have to make sure we are running with Jesus, not, He running with us. Thank you.
Oh yes! I sat under Dr David Hay and Drs Lennox, C. Hay A Farris, J Farris. And I also ran. Jogged every day and it was always a holy time alone with Jesus. We ran. Good to connect with you through your story. Thanks.
Thank you so much, John, for today’s devotional. What an interesting thought – praying with our eyes open.
I’m going to give that a try!
Blessings on your ministry.
Food for thought! Did you know that you can sing “This is the day” instead of “Happy Birthday x2” to wash your hands properly? It gives a great start to your day! It is a praise song. Is praising God prayer or part of prayer? Or a prelude to Thanksgiving?
Thanks for sharing your musings, sad so many can’t run at all.
Do you take communion? What does this mean? What does it mean to humbly follow Jesus, God, as He is IN us through, He in the Person of the Holy Spirit?
The flowers will be out soon, may you enjoy them soon!!!
Wow! A new thought about prayer! Or is it old? I remember hearing that Bro Lawrence prayed while cleaning up.
In the kitchen.
Today, I’ll be trying to make each moment a time of prayer. What a day it’s going to be! Thanks for this practical encouragement. Bless you in your ministry at this challenging time!
(BC)
Good morning John,
Thank you for writing this very meaningful and mindful devotional today. We are so fortunate that our Lord is “on duty” at all times. No matter what time of day or night we can call on Him to hear our prayers and that is the great reassurance we have.
Blessings for your contribution to the devotionals.
(B.C.)
Morning, John,
Your devotional was most appropriate for me, especially today. Shortly I will be leaving for the funeral of a young couple, who are parents of a baby girl. They were killed in a car accident. Running with prayer seems like an especially good idea today.
Thank you,
(Texas)
Thank you for your wonderful message regarding “Running with Jesus.”
I often wonder if my ‘on the run prayers of thanking Jesus for a kind motorist who has allowed me to merge onto the QEW highway during rush hour’ was appropriate or even ‘spiritual.’ And I’ll also thank Him for helping me find where I ‘dropped my car keys, which I need immediately’ and have trouble remembering; rather mundane. However, if anyone can understand the human condition it is Jesus… and I love the image of ‘running with Jesus’ even though my ‘running days’ are long over. Thank you.
Dear John,
I pray often with my eyes open because I pray when I am out for my walk when I am walking alone. Being in God’s nature, helps me to focus on what is important in my life and in the lives of people I know. I sometimes pray for someone who I pass on the street because it pops into my mind. This is a good reminder of what is important in our lives. Thank you for sharing a little of your story and encouraging us to pray always. May you have a blessed day filled with prayer.
Thank you for your message today. I have been praying with my eyes open for a long time, and it is good to hear that others do the same. Back in the early 1980s Dr. Hay was the minister at a small Presbyterian church and I remember him well. Thanks for bringing him to mind also. Keep well and safe in this covid age.