You rise from your knees, feel good because you prayed for the day (just as you are supposed to, right?) and then set out to accomplish your to-do list and fix any problems that may come your way.
... That has been so many of us.
That has been me.
We all know the Lord's Prayer, which is what Jesus taught to His disciples after they asked,
Lord, teach us how to pray.
That, in itself, is a prayer worth praying.
Oh, Lord, that You would teach us how to pray.
He will answer, you know. In His time and His way, He will answer.
Do you ever wonder, "Does my praying make a difference? Or is it just something I am "supposed" to do?"
I challenge you to go a step further and wonder, "Do my prayers wage war on the enemy? Do my prayers lift up a sweet song of incense and worship before the throne of the Almighty God? Do my prayers do battle for my family? Do my prayers stand in the gap for my friends? Do my prayers lift up thanksgiving for my many blessings?"
If you are unsure if your prayers do those things, I invite you to join me in praying, "Lord, teach me how to pray."
A lifestyle of prayer is something that is developed over time, and it is something we all can strive for together.
Ephesians 6:18 reminds, "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."
All Occasions.
All Kinds of Prayers and Requests.
Always keep on Praying.
"Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
In every situation in life, our answer should be to hit our knees. Trust me, I know that it's not always the natural first response. But as you begin to do so, it will become more and more natural. Praising and thanksgiving will become second nature, and praying in the Spirit in power and in love will be your life line. You'll be dependent upon prayer and upon the One who answers, the One who woos and wins your heart in the process.
Some were answered no; some were answered yes. Some were miracles.
They were miracles that I still cry over, hold my breath over. God's mercy is too great to grasp, and yet He sprinkles it down in a gentle rain to refresh us instead of crushing us beneath the monsoon.
His mercy is breathtaking.
We are His Bride; let us go and meet with Him!
Let us pray as if our lives depend upon it... because they DO.
And He hears, beloved. Oh, He hears.