Prayer
Word of the Day: Prayer
Verse of the Day: “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
Mark 1:35
Prayer is so important. It is used in one form or another in the Bible over 400 times.
A lot of times we pray “with vain repetition” or as a matter of habit (before bed or at supper). But Jesus got up early before everyone else and prayed - even as He was God. Pretty amazing right?!?
Praying is a fellowship with God. It develops our relationship with Him and it’s a way to communicate. I would feel uneasy if I didn’t have my morning prayer routine.
A prayer journal is a great way to write out things to pray for and a way to keep track of the prayers that God answers. God answers prayers? Yes, absolutely He does! But you have to pray first. You can’t expect results without effort.
The Bible says so much about prayer - but for most people it’s something we do when we have time or need something. It’s not bad to have a routine for prayer but prayer shouldn’t be routine.
I’d like to share my prayer structure;
Praise God - Give glory to God for all that he has done in your life including circumstances, His Will, forgiveness, grace, etc.
Give Thanks - Thank God for things in your life and the people he has surrounded you with. Finances, skills and abilities, friendships and family - all are because of God.
Repentance - repent of your sin, confess it to God daily. (Repenting is turning away from your sin. Not saying sorry and continuing to do it.).
Specific Request - Ask God for help with something specifically.
Commitment - and then finally make a commitment to God and follow through with it.
Build a prayer relationship with God. Grow closer to Him by praying. I didn’t used to pray - at all, ever. Not even sure why I didn’t.
I was saved on March 2nd, 2019. And for months I turned to God occasionally. And then one day I woke up and wondered why I wasn’t praying all the time. I had the journal, I had salvation, I was reading my Bible, going to church, but I wasn’t praying always.
Now, I wouldn’t know what to do if I didn’t have my morning prayer time. And making time in the morning has created a desire in me to pray throughout the day. I am always praying. And now I can’t imagine not praying. But you have to start somewhere. Don’t wait until later. There are too many things to do in the day and if we wait until later there will be too many distractions.
“Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
James 5:16
Mark 11:24
2 Chronicles 7:14 (my absolute favorite)
Matthew 6:6