Prayer:
Entreating God’s attention and favor upon another.
James 5:16
For some of us prayer seems to be complicated, don’t you think? What I mean is, we may have thoughts that prayer has to be said/done a certain way.
(Examples)
- We must pray with our hands folded, kneeling, or lying on our face to pray.
- We must pray at certain times of the day.
- Our prayer must sound eloquent, especially if said out loud!
Prayer, though, is as easy as a conversation with a loved one or dear friend. Prayer should not feel like you “have” to be a certain way or say certain things. In prayer, you can just be you! Isn’t that freeing??? Listen, God created you as YOU! He loves YOU because you are YOU! When you pray, talk like YOU, laugh like YOU, act like YOU. He knows you inside and out, and you don’t need to impress Him! He is already impressed! :0) Our conversations with God are not flippant or like hangin’ out with a buddy, but neither are they formal, always-scripted events. When we approach God in prayer, we can come boldly (not disrespectfully) into the presence of the Father Who loves us.
Prayer is our way of getting to know our Father. If you have a relationship with someone, what happens if you don’t speak with them for awhile? That relationship may not be as close as it once was, right? Or it may not be as close as you want it to be. Right? It is the same with God. God never, ever, leaves us, but we may feel distant from Him if we don’t spend time talking with and listening to Him – regularly. Daily is good. Continuing conversations are better!!
Have you ever had someone take the time to lift you to the Father in prayer? We may think that saying, “I’ll pray for you” is such a small gesture, but think about the ONE to whom you are praying! It is a big deal to bring our and others needs to the God of the universe. He loves that person more than you could ever. Don’t you think He wants to be included in that relationship?
I will be honest. I have had my share of struggles with prayer at times. In the 52 Week Plan a couple of weeks ago (“My Friends! My Friends!”) I told you about a dear friend of mine who passed away. What I didn’t mention was she died in December of 2001. Yes, the same year as 9/11. Also in that same year, a few months before my friend died, my husband and I lost our baby at 4 months into my pregnancy. We had prayed for a very long time about having another child, our third, and after a year of trying to get pregnant, we finally did – only to lose that child to a miscarriage. We prayed and prayed for our friend to be healed of her cancer, yet she died. We lived in NJ at the time of the 9/11 attacks and wondered “why” is this happening? We prayed and were excited about the pregnancy, and then we didn’t get to welcome that baby into our family.
After these events, I became “prayer shy”. I felt hesitant to pray because “What if it turned out differently from what I asked? How would I feel towards God? What would I think He thought of me? (If He doesn’t answer my prayer that must mean..”I am not good enough. I haven’t earned His love … enough. I didn’t pray enough or the correct way, etc…”) I wrestled every time I “needed” to pray, especially to pray for “someone out loud”! I was fearful to give someone hope through prayer. That sounds a little crazy, but those were my thoughts. What did I do, you may be asking?? I prayed anyway simply because My Father invited and commanded me to.
Ephesians 6:18: And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
Romans 12:12: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
Luke 18:1; Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Don’t go thinking I am this awesome person of faith because, I tell you, I struggled for years. In fact, that little hesitation still hits my heart at times when someone asks me to pray for them. I push through, though, because I have come to terms in my heart that no matter what the outcome – God is the one in control, not me. I can only be obedient to pray, pray for HIS will to be done, not mine and then accept that. God is so faithful, and He really doesn’t mind when we come to Him and say, “Lord, I don’t even know how to pray for this one, but You know Lord” then, you can lay that prayer request at His feet. God knows you. He loves you. He cares and He is sovereign over you, my, and the entirety of creation. He is trustworthy.
- Did Jesus pray? How important was it to Him to engage His Father in prayer? When we pray, we are walking in the light of Jesus’ example of prayer and engaging His Father and ours in real life, real time conversation. Rest in the peace of His greatness and care.
- In the verses on prayer listed above (Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18) prayer is not a suggestion. It is a required part of our growth. In fact, you and I pray at times when we are not even aware of formally, intentionally praying. Sometimes we can’t help it. Prayer, pleading, praising, thankfulness, intercessions simply happen. Why not practice times of focused prayer as well as spontaneous prayer? Do the Word of God. Do the Book!
- With your spouse, your family, and/or friends take time to pray. Pray at mealtime, at bedtime, and at gatherings for sure. Why not also have meaningful times of prayer when you discover a friend has needs that should be addressed together before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Share Prayer. You can also pray with family for those in your circles of influence who need to engage in a relationship with God through faith and trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of that person.
Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Well, friend, be aware that Satan does not want you and me to pray, to submit to God, to humble ourselves and admit our desperate need for Jesus’ powerful work in our lives or in the lives of others. So let’s put the enemy in his place by praying – often, alone, with others, short times in prayer, long times in prayer. Just pray.