Prayer Life

Has anyone ever asked you, “How’s your prayer life?” We should maybe be asking each other that more often because prayer is our opportunity to talk to God. We can count on God to communicate to us through His Word, the Bible. Listen to the joy expressed in this passage from Psalm 9:
I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High (verses 1,2).

This prayer starts with acknowledging who God is and that’s a great idea! What do the verses above say about your actions toward God? Later in the same chapter, we see how God is at work:
“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
And those who know Your name put their trust in You,
for You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You. (verses 9,10).

It is an honor and a privilege to come to God in prayer, in praise, thanksgiving, and on behalf of others!

Here’s an exercise that may help you look at your prayer life in a slightly different way.
First, read Ephesians 6:18:
“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.”

Now, if you can, circle the word “all” each time it appears. What does this tell you? We could literally pray all day long with this as a guide. In fact, the Bible tells us to “pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)”. That’s a lot of prayer! It may not be literal, but it could challenge us to always be in communication with God as we navigate each day.

The author of this letter to the Ephesians, Paul, was experiencing hardship as he writes while under house arrest. Notice how concerned he was for other people. Sometimes we think back about people for whom we are thankful. For Paul, to remember people was to pray for them. How can you transform your memories into prayers?

Sometimes, difficult circumstances can actually bring people together and deepen their bond of love for one another as they come alongside each other in prayer and support.

Paul’s focus in his prayer in verse 18 highlights that prayer can be a constant, ongoing practice that should accompany the Christian’s spiritual life. He urges believers to pray "in the Spirit," which implies praying in alignment with God's will, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and relying on His guidance.

In the midst of life's struggles, we are called to remember that God is not distant. He is our refuge, our fortress, and the One who sustains us through every trial. By combining the promises of Psalm 91 with the call to persistent prayer in Ephesians 6:18, we can stand firm in our faith and move through tough times with confidence, knowing that God’s protection and presence are always with us.

4832 Ponderings:

• What might become a distraction to your desire to continually thank God?
• Think of a time when you were in a difficult or painful situation. How did your perspective on the situation affect your experience, your attitude, or how you responded?
• Who comes to mind that you can pray for right now?

Closing Prayer: 
Dear heavenly Father, You have blessed us through the people You bring into our lives. Some know You and some don’t. May all our actions and words we share with others draw attention to Your love and saving action through Christ Jesus. Remind us to pray fervently and regularly for those in our life. In His name we pray, Amen!