Back at the beginning of the year, I decided that this was going to be a year of intentional prayer for me–partly because I have never been really intentional about my prayer life. I wouldn’t even say I had a “prayer life.” It hurts to realize how shallow I was about it, but it’s true.
I’ve always prayed. Oh, I prayed desperately some times. But more often I was talking, not listening. I was asking, not offering. More often I was needing, not thanking. I subscribed to the theory that 5 seconds of “talking to God” was better than never talking to Him at all.
Well, I guess everyone has to start somewhere, so that’s probably true.
But that’s not what prayer looks like in the Bible. That’s not what prayer looked like for Jesus. He would spend hours in prayer–and He was clearly doing His father’s work! And growing as a Christian, means growing more Christ-like. God has certainly worked on my heart the last few years that I’ve got some growing to do!
“But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” (2 Peter 3:18)
Here’s a few things I’ve had to learn over the last 9-10 months about prayer. I few things about my journey…
- You have to LISTEN and WAIT. Yes, God is listening if you shoot some desperate “Lord, please help me with this!” prayer up there. But are you listening for His answer? His direction? Biblical prayer is not a one-way street! It’s a conversation…but not of equals! I’ve had to learn to wait on the Lord and not fill in His half of the conversation with my own words!
As I’ve learned to take the time to stop and listen, here’s some of the things I’ve heard that I wasn’t expecting…You don’t have to do this…You don’t have to fix this…This is not the best way…There’s another option…Remember what the Word says…You are wrong…Be still and wait.
- You have to start with PRAISE and THANKS. Otherwise you never get to it! There are so many needs–so many! And God wants us to bring Him all of them. Every. Single. One. With our praise and thanks. Honestly, sometimes I get so wrapped up in thanksgiving and re-counting my blessings with the Lord that my “needs” are suddenly not so pressing. Focusing on the Lord and praising His good works helps bring everything back to an eternal perspective that makes everything worldly look completely different.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Phillipians 4:6-7)
- KEEP PRAYING. One huge thing I’ve learned is that prayer changes things–usually starting with the heart of the person praying!
Have you ever prayed bad prayers? You know what I’m talking about–those “change him” prayers. Those “just let me have” prayers. Those “fix this mess for me” prayers. So often before now that’s all the further I would get. But as I’ve learned to pray longer and listen more, I find that my heart changes as I keep going. I start to see that I’m being selfish. I’m not being compassionate. I’m not doing everything I can to shine the light of Christ.
Funny how that happens when you let God do His work, instead of trying to convince Him to do your work!
As I look toward the end of the year, I have a feeling I’m going to continue with this focus on prayer next year as well. I know a lot of people choose a new word each year, but I don’t think I’ve exhausted this one yet. I don’t think I’m ready to talk in terms of my “prayer life.” I don’t think I’m to the point where I can’t go a day without prayer time. I don’t think I’m at the point where I go to prayer as a habit for every decision–even when I’m not in my “prayer closet” {aka the truck, or the shower, or the porch}.
And that’s where I’m trying to get to. How would you describe your prayer life?
Here’s a few of the prayer resources on my nightstand right now…
