Talking to God is a beautiful thing, and the more you do it the closer you will get to Him. Prayer should be an integral part of your day. I always start and end my day with prayer, along with lifting up many little prayers throughout the day.
The Bible even tells us that we should pray continually: “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Very often I will just mutter a simple “Thank you, Jesus” or “I love you, God” while showering, driving, or just while doing the most random things. Praying isn’t just about asking for things. It’s about having a relationship with our Lord. And prayer goes hand in hand with the Bible. It’s really the only way to have a full conversation with God. Regularly reading, studying, and meditating on God’s word opens up the gates to something so glorious.
Colossians 4:2 says that we should: “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”
Romans 12:12 tells us to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulations, and be constant in prayer: “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.” Romans 12:9-13
And 1 John 5:14 tells us this: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
There are a lot of amazing promises in the Bible regarding prayer. Jesus promises that He will do anything we ask for in His name: “If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:14
And Jesus says that whatever we ask for in prayer we will receive as long as we believe it. What a phenomenal promise. Thank you so much, Jesus.
“Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Mark 11:24
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
“And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22
I can’t be the only one who just feels so incredibly grateful reading those verses.
And check out this amazing promise in Jeremiah 33:3: “‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’”
How amazing is that? Prayer really opens up so many wonderful things for us when we let it.
This next verse reminds us to start our day with prayer: “My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.” Psalms 5:3
Quiet your mind during prayer and really let the Holy Spirit speak to you. He is always with you. He will even intercede for you when you can’t find the right words to say, or when you feel like you’re not making sense. God hears us no matter what. He hears every cry, every moan, and every whisper. He even hears us when we don’t speak. He hears our hearts.
“Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” Romans 8:26
Matthew 6:6 says this: “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”
This is where you will really feel the Holy Spirit. Open up your heart and your mind when you pray, and just listen for His voice and His guidance. The time that I spend alone with God is truly the most treasured time of my existence.
And while praying alone is a beautiful and intimate connection with God, praying in a group is a marvelous thing as well. Matthew 18:20 says: “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
James 5:16 says: “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”
And not only does God want us to pray for our friends, but He also wants us to pray for those who do wrong to us. The best way to deal with enemies is to pray for them. These next few verses tell us so:
“And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses.” Mark 11:25
“But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.” Matthew 5:44
“Bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you.” Luke 6:28
It definitely takes a certain level of spiritual maturity to stand and pray for the ones who curse us, hate us, use us, and persecute us. But our Father forgives us of our trespasses, so we must forgive others of theirs. And we must do so during prayer.
We are to live our lives not being anxious for anything, but rather thanking God and trusting in His promises to us.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6
I Peter 3:12 tells us that the Lord is always listening to the righteous: “For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers.”
I’m going to leave you with this final excerpt from Jeremiah, because reading it always gives me chills:
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13
If you’re looking for God, you will find Him in prayer. Call upon Him. Talk to Him. Cry out to Him. Thank Him. Listen for His voice. Feel His presence. Seek Him with all of your heart. God loves a righteous and passionate soul. Don’t be afraid to really open up to Him and allow Him to do His work in your life.
God bless you all.
My Light for My Lord 