What Can We Not Live Without? Or, What Do We Need More Of? Or, What Can We Not Get Enough Of?

“Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the Lord has done glorious things!” Psalms 118:15

If we did a survey and I asked three questions about your prayer life, how would you answer them?

1. Do you seek a greater filling of God’s presence from your prayer life?

2. Do you truly believe God hears and answers your prayers?

3. How often are you praying to God?

Have you figured out the answer to the many titles of this post? Here it is…PRAYER!

Bill Hybels, pastor and author, says, “Prayerless people cut themselves off from God’s prevailing power, and the frequent result is the familiar feeling of being overwhelmed, overrun, beaten down, pushed around, defeated…Prayer is the key to unlocking God’s prevailing power in your life!”

So, let’s talk about prayer…what you think about this topic can dramatically add to your prayer life or take away from it. Our purpose here is to realize that to be a prayer-person, or even a prayer-warrior, you start small and grow your faith. If you’re not sure where to begin, start by praying for your family. When God answers any one of your prayers, give a “shout of victory” unto Jesus (Psalm 118:15; Joshua 6:5,20). Acknowledge that the answer to your prayer came from heaven above, from your Heavenly Father, and then give Him the glory!

John Ortberg in his book, The Life You’ve Always Wanted, says this about our prayers changing lives:

“You don’t know how many people have been strengthened because you asked God to encourage them; how many people have been healed because you prayed for their bodies; how many spiritual runaways have come home because you prayed for their souls. None of us may ever know the true effects of our prayers this side of death. But we do know this: History belongs to the intercessors.”

“How do I start?” Or maybe, “How do I start, again?”

The response is simple…FIVE MINUTES!

Yes, this is the answer. I would encourage you to start out daily with just five minutes of prayer and reading of the Word…just 5 minutes.

Let me explain. If you are not praying regularly because you find it difficult building a relationship and a bond with Christ, then I say, start with just five minutes of prayer and reading the Word! That’s it!

“But that’s nothing” you might say. True. That’s not a lot of time…but it might be more than your doing, or have ever done, and God has done a lot more with a lot less. God will honor your five minutes because it will come from your heart. Don’t be concerned. He will be the one to cause your prayer life to grow!

Consider these three areas of prayer focus: Children, Spouse, Family Members and Close Friends:

CHILDREN

When my two girls were little and growing up, it was our practice to pray with them each night before bedtime, without exception. If I was away at work, into the evenings, my wife would pray with them as she put them to bed. I remember one night I got home late around 10 p.m. and as I went upstairs to kiss my little girls, one still lay awake awaiting me. I heard her call out to me, “Daddy.” She wanted me to come pray with her and give one last kiss goodnight. The minute I carried out my child’s yearning, she immediately closed her eyes and instantly fell asleep. Prayer for her today is still infectious and a go-to in her daily living! She’s an incredible worship leader and a prayerful leader of women.

Prayer over our children continues for us to this day. We pray now for them and their children, even for the new little child coming in June for my youngest daughter and her husband. God uses fathers and mothers as a blessing to their children and grandchildren as they pray daily for them. Let prayer be a natural, exhilarating, life-changing alternative to the daily anxieties and pressures of this life. Let your children experience the effects and heavenly outcomes as God works His will through prayer. In turn, they will model your life of prayer and one day give Him their own “shout of victory!” There is no greater joy and responsibility than praying for the children God has placed in your life.

HUSBANDS AND WIVES

Prayer is an amazing gift from God. Marriage is just as amazing when you have the living God at the center of your life together. Like every relationship, in order to be successful, married life and prayer life must begin and build upon one very simple truth: honesty. You have to be ready to enter into both covenants with a willingness to be honest, no matter what. I sometimes think that learning how to pray and learning how to be successful in marriage go hand in hand. There is a union of communication, trust, and love that permeates throughout the relationship. Without sincere and ongoing prayers for our spouse, everything begins to dry up and the waters that used to flow into the mainstream of life, at some point, become inactive and dormant. Over time, a stagnated lake dries up and all dies within its boundaries. Prayer brings life to a marriage; connects us to the living God of our hope (Hebrews 6:19); gives us spiritual eyes to see the living God before us; and causes us to do what is pleasing and good for the Lord. This is indeed a mystery.

For those longing to be married, but have not come to that place in life yet, start to develop your prayer life NOW. Create a faithful and effective prayer life that will be ready to take on marriage when the time is right.

FAMILY MEMBERS and CLOSE FRIENDS

For those unmarried and feel that God has called you to a single life for His purpose and glory, you aren’t off the hook. You might not have a spouse or children to pray for, but I’m sure you certainly know of a few married friends and children who could use some serious heartfelt prayers. With that said, prayers for your family members and close friends can be powerful and necessary not only in yourpersonal life, but in their lives as well. Knowing that they have a brother or sister, niece or nephew, grandchild or cousin, or just a dear friend spending time meeting with God on their behalf, can move mountains in their life. “I will answer them even before they call to me. While they are still talking about their needs, I will go ahead and answer their prayers.” Isaiah 65:25 (NLT)

Every time you go to God, in Jesus’ name, ask Him to teach you to pray (Luke 11:1); ask for His Holy Spirit to teach you and to lead you (Romans 8:9-11). Pray for spiritual victories in your life and in the lives of others. Pray for your children, your spouse, your family members and close friends…most of us enjoy talking about these people to others – why not have that conversation with God! After all, if they’re important to you, they’re important to Him.

I close with this prayer:

“Oh God, I do love talking to you. I do love seeing how your marvelous hand continually works your good will in me, a lowly servant.

I love experiencing your living presence in my life as you go before me answering needs that reflect glory back to you from where it came, and answering my prayers for the needs of the many; you are a gracious and loving God who desires that none should perish.

You have never failed me. You have always been there for me. You are my greatest spiritual comfort and joy. You are the living God who hears our prayers and near to all who love you and who look forward to your second appearing from heaven (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

To know you more is my earnest plea. To praise you more is simply an outgrowth of my gratitude for my salvation. To sing to you is the joy I receive from you. To walk and talk to you is the confirmation of this personal “Life” we can have with you. There is no greater evidence, fulfillment, and strength of heart than you living in me. Amen.

“. . . Lord, renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10

Some of my favorite quotes on prayer:

“Prayer gives you courage to make the decisions you must make in crisis, and then the confidence to leave the results to a higher power.” General Eisenhower

“The most important part of prayer was the 15 minutes after he had said the ‘amen’.” George Mueller, an incredible missionary of the 19 century

“Men and women of strong faith are men and women of much prayer.” Leonard Ravenhill

“Prayer is talking to God about what we are doing together.” (the late) Dallas Willard

“Lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us.” C.S. Lewis