Prayer is universal to all faiths and we know that it’s central to the Christian faith but why is it that prayer can seem so hard to wrap our minds, mouths and motivations around? Here are 4 basic thoughts on why we may struggle with prayer:
1. We’re not sure how to pray
2. We get bored or distracted while trying to pray
3. We think our requests are too small for God
4. We’re not sure that our prayers will make a difference
Defining prayer is simply stated as COMMUNICATION WITH GOD!
It’s important that we give each other room to connect with God in different ways because all of us have unique ways of engaging with his Spirit.
If you want to grow your prayer life then I believe the following tips will help you because they have helped me and countless others.
You will find these tips stated in various books and sermons in different wording:
Talk to God with gut level honesty: God isn’t interested in long or perfect prayers but he is interested in prayers that authentically come from your heart.
Talk to God about everything that matters to you: Phil 4:6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God and the peace of God will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
Talk to God continually: 1 Thess 5:16-18 exhorts us to pray without ceasing.
You may struggle to pray for extended periods of time in one hit but you can pray 10-20 mins at a time all throughout the day.
Listen to God for his response: Monologue prayer is limited but dialogue communication is critical to walk in God’s purpose for your life.
Pray Until Something Happens: Don’t give up and never give in. Just keep on praying until you breakthrough.
Prayer should not be a religious ritual but a way of life which involves practicing the presence of God.
Some memorize “prayers.” Some read a prepared “prayer.”
Matthew 6 sets out some boundaries for our prayer life. It’s not to be done for the recognition of other men.
Matthew 6:1 (NIV) “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven”
Our prayer time is a sweet time with God when we pour out our hearts to Him alone.
But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Matthew 6:6 (NIV)
God listens to our innermost hearts. We can share anything with Him because He cares and wants us to come to Him. Rewards come to those who pray with sincerity, and from the heart. God is always there waiting for us to fellowship with Him.
For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Ephesians 2:18 (NIV)
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7 (NIV)
It doesn’t say “don’t ask”, just “don’t use vain repetitions.” It’s not how long you pray but how much you believe when you pray.
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24 (NIV)
We are specifically reminded of the two types of prayer in 1 Corinthians 14:15 (NIV) So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my mind;
Both types of prayer are necessary as we walk with God. We will to pray either way. When we pray with our understanding it profits our mind. Praying with the spirit is praying in tongues. When we pray with the spirit, it builds us up in our inner man. It is also a means to pray for one another, even when we don’t ‘know all the facts.’
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will. Romans 8:26-27 (NIV)
Prayer is one means of continually helping people. We need to make up our minds to pray and to persevere in prayer.
Colossians 4:2 (NIV) Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
In Philippians 4:6 we read: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. We stay thankful and continue the habit of prayer. We apply ourselves to it. It takes commitment to develop our prayer life but God’s Word tells us to “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17) Talk things over with your Heavenly Father. Make time for prayer. Jesus did. What better example could we have!
Jumoke
Thank you very much for this text. Its added unto by life and thought me new things about prayer. God bless you