Pray

I have a question for you. No need to answer out loud just think for yourself. When presented with a trial or conflict what is your typical impulse reaction?

For example, God forbid any of these happen to you but let’s say you wake up tomorrow and discover that your car has been broken into or an email arrives from your manager regarding an error you’ve made at work, or an unexpected bill comes up and you’re left scrambling trying to figure out how you’re going to put bread on the table for your family, how do you respond? Is your first thought to panic or do you pray?

I’ll be the first to say that I’ve failed in this area of my life more times than I care to admit, my sin nature will often times get the best of me and the first thing I’ve done when met with conflict is panic, I ignore God and start to process and think that it’s up to me to fix or resolve whatever situation I’m confronted with but guess what you don’t have to go through these trials on your own, you don’t need to panic or worry or be afraid because God is in control. Do you know what happens when you try and solve all your problems on your own? You start to panic and spiral out of control; you over analyze and begin to stumble and next thing you know your situation is much worse than it was to begin with. Trust me I’m preaching to the choir here, I know it’s easy to react and try and solve things on our own but as a child of God the first thing we ought to do in the midst of any situation should always be pray. No matter what the situation may be or the gravity of the conflict that arises in your life the first step should always be prayer. The first person we should always turn to is God; no matter the circumstances, nothing is too big or too small for our God.

Time and time again throughout God’s Word we hear of faithful stewards of the past who rather than relying on their own strength in times of conflict or challenges trusted God and prayed; they had faith that God would provide and protect. In the Old Testament, Daniel was instructed not to pray, in fact at one point it became law not to pray but Daniel chose to go against authority because his love for God was greater than any law or political agenda.

Daniel 6:10 says this “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”

Because Daniel openly refused to obey these laws that went against the one and only true God He was immediately thrown into a lion’s den where he chose to have faith in God rather than panic. In the New Testament, Peter finds himself being wrongfully captured and thrown into prison, rather than taking actions into their own hands the church opted to pray for Peter, God heard their prayers and helped bring Peter out of prison.

Acts 12:5 says this “Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”

The Bible is living and breathing proof that through prayer God can do the impossible. 

What does the Bible tell us about prayer?

ASK

If we don’t ask then God has nothing to give, whatever you want from God the first thing you must always do is ask.

Matthew 7:7 says this “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

And in Matthew 21:22 it says that “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.”

NEVER STOP PRAYING

No matter what is going on in your life or in the world never stop praying.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says this “Pray without ceasing.”

And in Romans 12:9-12 it says “Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer.”

PRAY TOGETHER

When we come together and pray for a specific situation God is in the midst of our prayers.

Matthew 18:20 says this “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

HAVE FAITH

Without faith it is impossible to please God and subsequently it is impossible to believe that God can answer your prayers if we don’t have faith.

Mark 11:22-24 says this “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

Careful not to set high expectations when reaching to God in prayer and be patient. Sometimes the way God answers a prayer may differ from what we request and the timeframe that He chooses to respond to a prayer may differ from what we expect, it could be instantaneous, or our prayers could be answered at a later date. God knows our needs better than we do and His plan is far more perfect than any plan we could ever make for ourselves therefore God will answer our prayers in the most perfect time and in the most perfect imaginable way. We’re all human and therefore we see the world how we want to see it, we make plans and set expectations and sometimes when we pray we ask for things that we think we need or want. We then bring those expectations to God demanding what we think we deserve but God’s view of our life, God’s view of the world is bigger than our own; we may only see a small glimpse, but God sees the big picture. No matter the request you have, remain faithful and trust that when you pray and ask something of God that however He responds it is because He knows what is best for your life, not just your life but for the lives of others.

So how do we pray?

Although prayer is personal and a conversation between you and God we find the perfect template of what prayer should like in Luke 11:1-3 where Jesus Himself teaches us how to pray:

“When ye pray, say,
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins;
for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.”

First, you must acknowledge the authority and reverence of our Lord in heaven, that He is the one true God whom you are praying.

Secondly, come to the Lord with thanksgiving in your heart, be thankfully for the Word and for the many blessings that God provides to you on a daily basis.

Thirdly, come to the Lord with forgiveness, ask Him to forgive you for any mistakes you may have made and for the mistakes of those who have wronged you.

Lastly, come to the Lord with your requests, pray that God keep you from temptation and delivers you from any evil, let all your requests be made known unto God. No matter what your prayer looks like, whether it be short or long, planned or spontaneous, God hears your prayers.

Prayer is the foundation of our walk with God, it is the Holy Spirit that lives within us that allows us to have a personal conversation and relationship with Him. It is through this very relationship that we are blessed with the opportunity to not only talk to God, but to bring our requests to Him, to rely solely on Him that throughout our difficult moments and challenges we are able to find hope in Him. So, the next time that you are confronted with conflict or an issue arrives at your present time don’t resort to panic or be anxious but turn to God in prayer, call upon Him. 

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us that “the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

Whatever step you take next is up to you, but I can assure you that when you fall down on your knees, have faith and bring your requests to God, He will listen and those feelings of anxiety and fear become nonexistent. If you put God first and reach out to Him in prayer rather than solving all your problems on your own God promises that He will guide you and carry you every step of the way; do not be afraid but have faith in the truth and realization that He is with you, always.