I posed this question a little over a week ago on my blog's Facebook page. I was hoping for a dialogue but instead was met with silence. And I believe that is indicative to the prayer life of many believers. If God came to us and said I am going to answer everything you have prayed about, in the way you want, in the last 7 days - I have a feeling most of us would be disappointed in what we would receive.
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When I heard the question posed in a sermon, it really made me think. I know I pray some, but I am guilty too of neglecting my prayer life when I am tried. I string prayers along throughout my day, I pray during the times we are called to during service, and there are mornings when I do offer up detailed prayers. But I am not consistent. This is not a judgement sisters, this is a reminder that we have access to throne room of Heaven.
We do not have to go to preacher/priest/pastor to have our prayers heard. We can offer them directly to God. And even more glorious, we have the Holy Spirit as an intercessor. He makes sure our prayers get to God in the right manner, in accordance to His will.
Romans 8:26-27 (ESV)
26 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. 27 And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.
What a beautiful verse. I have heard the story of the child who was saying her evening prayers. Her father listened in and heard her saying, "ABCDEF..." all the way to Z. Her father asked her what she was doing. To which she replied, "I don't know the words to pray, so I am giving up the letters." When we don't know what to pray, what a beautiful concept. Sing your alphabet and ask the Holy Spirit to make the right words.
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I know myself well enough to know this, if someone asks me to pray for them, I must do it right then, because I will forget and I don't want to make a false promise. I do have a list of people/collectives to pray for, and I try to attend to it. If I see a need in a post, or if a news story catches my eye - I do pray.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
We are told to pray without ceasing. Sisters, we need to discipline ourselves to pray all day, throughout the day. We are called by Jesus to do it. Next Monday, I will report back with my list of prayers, the people and situations that I have sent up to God to cover their lives and situations. Will you join me?
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