“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all He has done.” – Philippians 4:6
‘Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” – Romans 12:12
Every relationship starts with the talking stage. Your relationship with God is no different. It might be a rocky start, but you’ll get to know each other in no time. So, get talking!
Prayer is one of the biggest parts in a Christian’s life, and something we should do often. It is a conversation between you and God, like talking to your friend. We should make sure our prayers aren’t a speech directed at God, but rather a dialogue going both ways.
It can be quite hard to make prayer a part of your routine, so just start with a 2-minute prayer in the morning to thank God for the new day. It starts of as a discipline, which becomes a habit, and finally a rhythm. When you pray, find a quiet spot without distractions where you can be alone and listen to God. Jesus went to a quiet place to pray alone to his father, setting the example for us. You can pray outside, or at your desk with some coffee and your journal.
It’s nice to talk to God, but sometimes we must pray intentionally. The Bible says that if we ask, we will receive. So, ask specifically for what you need in your life. We serve a living God, he will answer your prayers! And, if His answer is ‘no’, He’s not angry or punishing you.
He might just have something bigger waiting for you. It’s also important to know why you’re praying. Ask yourself, ‘why am I paying this?’ Is it for your own goodwill, or for God’s glory? Even when Jesus was praying, He asked for God’s will to be done.
Remember – you can’t disqualify yourself from prayer! We don’t pray because of who we are, but because of who God is. He is the Creator of the universe, and He wants you to talk to Him! Our God is a loving God, and He will always welcome you with open arms.
Prayer 101
Prayer: God, thank you that we can freely talk to You. I ask for a clear mind and to be surrounded by the Holy Spirit, so that I can listen to what You say to me. Amen.
Challenge: Start every day this week with a short prayer to thank God for all He has done for you so far.
