Before I seek to provide any help let me first confess that I’m not coming from a position of great victory here. I’ve spent much of my adult life praying that my prayer life would improve (which, of course, is an outstanding first step). I’ve not arrived but God has blessed me, principally through the precious gift of my wife. Here are five changes I’ve noticed in my prayer life in the five years we’ve been married that have been a help.
1. Reading the Bible through yearly is a great help to prayer. This habit begins with hearing God in His Word. When He is speaking, or rather, when we are listening, we are more attuned to Him, more open to speaking with Him, guarded against moving through our days without giving Him much of a thought. For much of my adult life my work kept me regularly in God’s Word. While I’m grateful for that, it’s not the same thing as opening God’s Word morning and evening.
2. Praying morning and evening with my wife has been a great help to prayer. First, I get to be right beside her as she prays. Because my heart is drawn to hers, and hers to mine, we draw each other to His. If you have a spouse I can think of few things more important not only to your prayer life but your Christian walk and your marriage than that the two of you pray together daily.
3. Pray throughout the day. That is, we do not need to choose between extended times of committed prayer and constant times of brief prayers. The practice of moment by moment walking with Him is good in itself but also powerful for improving our intimacy when we devote more time. Think of it this way. If you write lengthy hand-written letters to a dear friend that doesn’t mean you don’t want to send quick texts. And vice-versa. How much more so with the living God?
4. Pray for others. When our attention and concern is directed toward the well-being of others are heart is more in tune with our Lord. This, of course, includes your enemies. Jesus, immediately before and during His passion prayed for His disciples, assured the care of His mother and prayed for those who were torturing Him. Another blessing of praying widely, for many people and their needs is you get to hear more and more reports of God’s gracious responses.
5. Believe what the Bible tells us. We can all talk about the doctrine of God’s imminence, speak to His love, affirm the doctrine of adoption. All of which comes well short of remembering that He is our Father who loves us with a perfect, infinite, immutable, by name love. I often pray, “Lord, I’m not asking You to give me more. I’m asking You to help me better see all that You’ve already given me.” Give thanks. As I type it is snowing outside, yet another occasion to thank God, for both the snow and the warmth He keeps us in in the home He has given us.
We do not bootstrap our way to a better prayer life. The solution isn’t more effort on my part, but more gratitude for all He has already done. I’m praying He will continue to help me grow in my prayer life, and praying He would do that same for you. Will you join me?
One of God’s greatest gifts is being beside you praying. Holding your hand while we cry out together on behalf of all those the Lord lays upon our hearts. Pray changes things. Prayer is a portal to the living God who acts upon our requests, sees our faith in action and answers us when we call upon Him. Without faith it’s impossible to please God and He rewards those who seek Him (Acts 4:23-37, Hebrews 11:6). Revelation 7:9-10 shows us all nations, peoples and languages gathered around the throne, worshipping God. Pray that becomes a reality here on earth soon, and pray specifically for the people group that’s on your heart to be a part of this gathering. On earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).
I praise God for you, baby. I praise God for us.