Strength Through Prayer

This is part 3 of series of blogs about prayer. Segments of this blog are direct quotes from an article entitled, Prayer: How Real Is it.

The last couple blogs have been a conversation starter on prayer. The video below is a good intro of a community that not only prays together, but does it 24-7-365. Why they do it, Where they do it, and How they thought of it. I’m doing this to show you and tell you about prayer in our generation. The 24-7prayer movement is passionate about this, and people are following their example all around the world. Check this out!

As you read the next section of this article about prayer, I want you to dream for a second. Try to answer these questions: What could prayer do to you? Think about what prayer could be for you right now. What could it mean to your life… I mean, what are you going through now, that if really God showed up, things would be radically different. What are the possibilities of your faith if God really answers prayer and proves the scripture, “If you ask me for anything in My name I will do it.” John 14:14 ISV

There are no formulas to prayer—you can’t mess up. When you begin to make yourself aware of God’s presence, you engage with Him in many different forms—through thought, words, song. And when you bring things to God, you begin to understand that He takes center stage, that you cannot function properly without Him. Prayer is also a tool that strengthens your spiritual life and emotions. “Slowly I saw God start to rebuild my life and give me strong and real foundations,” Greig says. “He lifted me out of the pit. He set my feet upon a rock. This was a promise and a prayer. God was starting to build tenacity in me—for Him, above all else.”

When we are familiar with the Bible, we can apply God’s wisdom and truth to our lives. Hebrews 4:12 explains that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword … it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (NIV). Oftentimes people struggle because they feel that God isn’t speaking to them. They feel lost and overlooked—but they’re not. Consider what it’s like to take an exam. If you show up to class without studying the material, you are unprepared and unable to answer the questions. But when you have studied, the answers come more easily. It is the same with prayer. If we go into life unprepared, we are bound to become lost and beaten down. The beauty unfolds when we study what God says and allow Him to guide us through life with the Truth we already know. When we make the effort to actually listen, discernment helps us live in a godly and purposeful fashion. Our monologued prayers become dialogue between God and us.

So what’s in it for you? That sounds selfish, but it’s not. If you can’t see the personal value to prayer, why even talk about it? Let me take the proverbial cat out of the bag, as if you haven’t seen it coming from a mile away: Why would I blog about prayer if not to convince or persuade people of its profound necessity? Simply put, our world is hurting (and you are too if you haven’t noticed it already). No gpa, career, car or video game contraption is ever going to quench our desire for fullfillment and purpose. Without prayer (an on-going conversation with God) we’re just another blip on the map of time, burning our days away in futile persuits. So here’s the million dollar question, “What could prayer do for you?”

*Whoever you are, let your comments to this blog be a prayer to God and a public proclimation for something more… Christianity that drips with passion, love, and a purpose that stirs you, not bores you.

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