Prayer Is What We Need!
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Growing up in church, I felt an obligation to pray, but as my faith grew over the years, I now see prayer as a privilege to talk with God in the quiet one-on-one time I have in the morning. God does answer all our prayers in His timing, whether it be “YES,” “NO,” or “WAIT.”
I have a special bench at McCarthy Park where I love to pray. I say to God, “Lord, what do you want me to do? Then I sit back and allow God to speak to me with promptings from His Spirit or the Bible. ~ Bill Greguska
Prayer Is More Important Than You Might Think!
In Reality, Prayer Is A Blessing, Not A Laborious Task!
Prayer ought to be the first option!
Prayer is a conversation between you and God; it is not asking God to change his mind, but for God to change my mind if that is His will. God wants to have a relationship with you, and prayer is one of the best ways to do this. Praying is one of the most important things a Christian can do. It is a time to communicate with God and should not be taken lightly.
There is a lot of power when we pray; it doesn’t have to be something that has to be said in a certain way, whatever is in your heart and mind. It’s something anyone can do anywhere at any time. There is no real wrong way to pray to God when you come to God humbly. It is essential to confess any sin before coming to God in prayer to cleanse your heart before the Lord. Prayer is the means for daily dialog with God, who created us. First, prayer allows us to share our cares and concerns with God. Prayer also allows us to share how much we are thankful for the things God provides. Prayer is not like rubbing a magic lamp and making a wish to a genie.
Why Pray If God Controls Everything?
Prayer Is Talking With, And Listening To God!
Be sure that when you pray, make sure you also listen to what God is trying to tell you!
Praying allows us to confess our sins and ask God for help with the temptations of life. When you pray, it is a way of honoring and worshiping God. I have two places I love the most to pray, one is in the bathroom, and the other is in McCarthy Park on a bench by the lagoon. I encourage you to ask God to give you a special place for the two of you to talk regularly. Finally, praying is a way to acknowledge that God is in control of our lives. Prayer allows us to be in a relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I have gotten into the habit of praying and journaling the first thing in the morning. I usually spend about 30 minutes reading my devotional, reading my Bible, and doing a little journaling reflection questions, which gets my day started on the right foot. ~ Bill Greguska
James 4:8 “draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”
Here Are Some Helpful Links:
- “Ask, and you shall receive,” What did Jesus mean by that?
- How can I have my prayers answered by God?
- How should a Christian respond to unanswered prayers?
- What are some hindrances to a healthy prayer life?
- What is prayer?
When You Pray?
Is your prayer life active or dormant?
- When you pray, it opens the door to express your gratitude to God for all He does. It says in Psalm 9:1, “I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonders.” When we pray, we acknowledge God’s faithfulness and all His blessings.
- When we pray, it allows us to confess our sins and ask God for help to repent of our sins. Unfortunately, we will sin until we die, but thankfully we can confess our sins to God, and He will forgive us. 1 John 1:9
- When you pray, it is an act of worship and also an act of obedience. It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” We ought to make prayer a regular habit and do it daily.
- When you pray is a great way to confess that God is in control of our lives, not us. We need to acknowledge God’s proper place in our lives and get directions from Him, not just do what we think is right or what feels good.
- Whether you are a brand new believer in Jesus Christ or have been a believer for many years, prayer should always be considered the best way to speak to God. Just think if you did not talk to a close friend or a loved one anymore. What do you think would happen to the relationship?
Helpful Scriptures About Prayer
- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
- James 5:13-17
- Jeremiah 33:3
- Matthew 7:7-8
- Matthew 6:33
- Psalms 46:10
- Matthew 5:13
- Matthew 6:9
Some Specific Scriptures To Encourage You:
Philippians 4:6 ESV
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
Mark 11:24 ESV
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
John 15:7 ESV
If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.
Romans 8:26 ESV
Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
Matthew 6:6 ESV
But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV
Pray without ceasing,
Matthew 6:7 ESV
And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
James 5:16 ESV
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Jeremiah 33:3 ESV
Call to me, and I will answer you and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Luke 11:9 ESV
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Matthew 26:41 ESV
Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit, indeed, is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Ephesians 6:18 ESV
Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
Colossians 4:2 ESV
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Matthew 6:9-13 ESV
Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Jeremiah 29:12 ESV
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.
Matthew 6:5-8 ESV
And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father, who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
Luke 18:1 ESV
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
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