Friday Fight 163: A Committed Conversation
Every Friday, when I wake and pray, God places something on my heart to help me fight darkness beginning in our minds. Today is FF163.
What does it mean to truly commit to prayer? Some of us might be envisioning ourselves at a table with our Bibles open, engaged in a continuous, vibrant conversation with God. Perhaps we find this thought challenging, and in our quest for deeper understanding, we turn to a pastor or friend for guidance. In either case, committing to prayer is establishing a consistent, ongoing dialogue with God. It is a conversation that is at the heart of our spiritual practice.
A Committed Conversation:
To grow and maintain a flourishing prayer life, we must commit to taking the time to pray. Being committed generally means setting goals, instilling habits, and following through to attain each. Any commitment can be daunting at first, and prayer is no exception. The essence of prayer is a conversation with our Creator; to truly understand, we must engage in it often. It may sound simple, but it's the truth! If we are blocked with feeling too unworthy to pray, remember this: there are only two groups of people - sinners and sinners saved by grace. When we approach our Heavenly Father with a humble heart ready to repent and receive His grace, we stand before His throne, broken yet forgiven.
What does committing to a conversation with God look like? It's a deeply personal journey that is just as unique as each of us. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray without ceasing. Just like any other commitment, prayer is something that matures over time, but we all have to start somewhere. The following are some of the things I have grown to include through my long prayer journey:
○ Start my day with generational prayers
○ End my day with praise and thanksgiving
○ Prayers of repentance
○ Anything new: job, schedule, college course
○ Before reading Scripture
○ Before, during, and after Sunday services
○ When tempted or provoked to become angry
○ Prayer requests from others
○ Before school, meals, and traveling
When we are prompted to pray in particular situations throughout the day, it increases our prayer time. Before long, we are praying throughout our day. In the simplicity and accessibility of prayer, we experience God's grace and power. Our understanding of God's love through prayer opens our souls to the fullness of God's will and direction for our lives. Remember, prayer is not a complicated ritual, but a simple and powerful tool that is always within our reach.
Imagine dedicating yourself to conversations with God, a dialogue encompassing prayers of supplication, adoration, repentance, or spiritual warfare. Envision praying daily for a church, family healing, or for forgiveness. Our time with God is not confined to a set schedule, nor is His power limited by our understanding. It's a commitment that transcends time and space, a commitment that will profoundly transform our lives.
Prayer is an intimate connection with God that is so deeply meaningful. Thank you for investing your time and attention in this reflection on prayer. Sharing these insights with you brings me immense joy and fulfillment.
Pastor Shannon
New Life Calvert