Prayer Still Works Series

A PRAYING LIFE STILL MATTERS

Psalm 139:23-24

Prayer is a solemn request for help or expression of thanks addressed to God or an object of worship:

Is your prayer life a struggle? Does praying seem like an exercise in eloquent speech that you don’t possess? Find biblical answers to many of your questions about prayer.

Do you ever feel like you have to pray just right, or it won’t work? Have you felt like your prayer wasn’t answered because you didn’t have enough faith or pray long enough? I’ve felt that way too. Maybe that’s because we make prayer too hard. So often, we make it all about us finding the perfect words and approach. We think we have to pray just right for God to hear and respond.

Yet Jesus reassured his disciples with these words: “When you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8).

Prayer is not a mysterious practice reserved only for clergy and the religiously devout. Prayer is simply communicating with God— listening and talking to him. Believers can pray from the heart, freely, spontaneously, and in their own words. If prayer is a difficult area for you, learn these basics principles of prayer and apply them in your life.

The Bible has a lot to say about prayer. The first mention of prayer is in Genesis 4:26: “And as for Seth, to him also a son was born; and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the name of the LORD.”

(NKJV)

I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God.’ ” (Zechariah 13:9, NLT)

But if you stay joined to me and my words remain in you, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted! (John 15:7, NLT)

The Lord instructed us to pray. One of the simplest reasons to spend time in prayer is because the Lord taught us to pray. Obedience to God is a natural by-product of discipleship.

“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise, the temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41,

NLT)

Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. (Luke 18:1, NIV)

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 saints.

(Ephesians 6:18, NIV)

(YOU CAN’T STAY INSIDE HIDING FROM THE PRESSURES OF

LIFE)

Prayer Isn’t a Formula You Have to Get Right

God’s hearing our prayers doesn’t depend on our praying long enough or hitting the right phrases. Prayer is an invitation to come before our Heavenly Father,[SD1], who knows our needs and longs to hear our voices. God hears and responds to us because He is faithful and has compassion for His children.

My prayer life grows deeper when I spend a few focused minutes praying each morning like Jesus did (Mark 1:35). This gets me in the right frame of mind to keep praying later in the day. I’m learning that prayer can be simple and natural as breathing.

Prayer isn’t a ritual that depends on closing our eyes and putting on holy faces. We don’t have to kneel or sit. We can pray while walking, driving, or working. God responds to a two–[SD2] word cry for help in the middle of a busy afternoon, just like He does to a focused prayer time after reading Scripture in the morning. Praying doesn’t have to be complicated. God delights in any simple words we offer Him.

As believers in Christ, we have a fantastic privilege; our Heavenly Father invites us to talk to Him! In Jeremiah 29:12, He asks his children to speak and promises to listen: “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” We can read God’s Word and talk to Him in the morning to align our hearts with His at the start of the day, and we can also speak to Him as we go about our daily routines.

We may think we have to pray with fancy words, but prayer is just talking to God. Throughout the day, God longs to hear our simple prayers:

Thank you for this breakfast, Lord.

Help me stay calm in this traffic jam.

Lord, help me love this person right now.