One statement often echoed is “I don’t have time to pray.” But prayer is the vehicle by which we have communication and fellowship with God. It is not a seeking of prayer but of God. There is an ebb and flow, a rhythm of prayer. How God chooses to operate is neither mundane nor rigid. He extends a daily invitation to come close and know Him. “When You said, ‘Seek my face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, Lord, will I seek’” (Psalm 27:8, NKJV). Consider such verses as:
If you are looking for a prayer journal, consider Arise.
How to Pray
“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
“Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).
“Pray without ceasing” (I Thessalonians 5:17).
“The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16).
To be fervent speaks of being diligent, consistent, passionately intentional, and having great anticipation of what will be accomplished as we pray. Being fervent is not synonymous with being boisterous and loud in volume, though there may be times of intensity as we pray. Listening to the voice of God is crucial as we come into alignment with what He wants to accomplish through our prayers. It is possible to be in the presence of God and yet not know His heart, mind, or will.
Speaking is only one component of prayer. Listening not only involves hearing God but also believing and obeying what He says. According to Ephesians 1, we have been chosen, adopted, accepted, sealed, and given an inheritance. There is more to be gained in Christ, as Paul prayed that believers would be given further wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ through prayer. God wants to elevate us to know the width, length, depth, and height of Himself, and then the things we ask of God will be done in greater measure because we will have knowledge of the power that works in us. It is the Spirit of God that infuses our prayers with power, which ignites our faith for the supernatural.
1. Understand That God Wants to Communicate with You
There are several things to consider when establishing a constant life of prayer. Though we have regularly scheduled times, we must have a paradigm shift in our thinking to understand that God wants to communicate and talk with us concerning every part of our daily lives. We should not restrict being in the presence of the Almighty to a specific time frame but continually have a mind that is set on God and His kingdom. God is continually speaking to us and is willing to meet us wherever we are. Whether during our personal devotion time, waiting in line at the grocery store, sitting in traffic, or praying at the altar, God is there to listen and respond. It is important to create an environment that invites the presence of God. Distractions, busyness, unforgiveness, unbelief, and sin rob us of having fellowship and communion with Him.
2. Have a Time of Worship and Introspection
Having a time of worship, journaling, quoting Scripture, interceding for others, and giving thanks are ways we can connect with God in prayer. It should be approached with an attitude of expectation and humility. God is not a genie in the bottle who casually grants wishes, but rather He is sovereign and all knowing. His ways and thoughts are higher and greater than our own. Even when we do not know what to pray for, the Spirit makes intercession for us. God wants to not only give us sight but insight into the hidden things ready to be revealed through prayer. We receive guidance, forgiveness, transformation, comfort, strength, and love not only for ourselves, but for others.
3. Focus on the Eternal and Recognize God Is Sovereign
Though there are different dimensions and various ways to pray, our prayers must always have an eternal focus. God wants to answer our individual requests, but He does it according to His will and to the advancement of His kingdom. All prayers will be answered with Heaven as our backdrop.
As we remain consistent and intentional in prayer, it is essential to recognize that God is sovereign in answering our requests.
There is an inter-connectedness between the visible and invisible, the natural and the supernatural. Living within the limitations of time and space can block our vision and perspective, but God is working all things together for good with His eternal purpose in mind (Romans 8:28). “For everything there is a season, and a time to every matter under the heaven. … He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end” (Ecclesiastes 3:1,11, ESV). When God chooses to answer prayers differently than we expected, we can have faith, confidence, and trust in our Lord and Savior that He does all things best for us. As we remain consistent and intentional in prayer, it is essential to recognize that God is sovereign in answering our requests.
Resources and Links
Arise: Walk in the Sunrise – To help you on your journey, this devotional prayer journal provides seventy daily features made up of mini-lessons, quotes, and Scripture verses. These are paired with lined journal pages for you to record your thoughts, reflections, and prayer.
Listen to the Quiet: Women’s Devotional Prayer Journal – It is all about relationship. And how better to strengthen a relationship than by communication? and how valuable is listening to any communication? In this book Shauna Hord has brought communication to a new level as she invites us to listen to the quiet. Hearing God’s voice in the quiet times is a blessed gift.
Browse our books on prayer here.