John Ortberg in his book "The Life You’ve Always Wanted" explained the 2 ways we typically undertake our prayer moments with God. He contrasts 2 different ways of approaching it – motor boating and sailing.
Motor boating is when we crank our spiritual engines and motor through reading, praying, worship, praise and intercession. With little regard for the Spirit of God we run as fast as we can to accomplish our “prayer routine”.
John explains that when praying it is better to view things more like sailing rather than motor boating. Sailing is about total dependence on the wind. Sailors instinctively know that the way to go forward is to wait on the wind. So it is with prayer.
Once we sense His presence we direct our sails (our spirits) in the direction of His leading and allow Him to take us where He wants to go. Often motor boating decides the direction, speed, power and length of our prayer time while sailing is dependent on the Spirit of God.
Unlike motor boating which speeds through one revelation to the next, sailing focuses on the one or two things God is focusing on and sailing with it until His wind brings us to where He wants to go.
In your next prayer time don’t motor boat with you agenda, rather lift up your sail (spirit) and direct it in the direction of where His Spirit is blowing.
This can be done by focusing on one or two key thoughts that God wants us to focus on for the day. Then once you get on it, ride that wind of revelation until you exhaust all that He wants to give you for that day. In other words, don't rush but enjoy.
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” John 3:8
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