Few things are as important in a Christian’s life as prayer. It offers us a line of communication with our Creator. It gives our souls rest when facing temptation. However, many Christians neglect this important discipline. This week, let’s examine three ways we can have good, consistent prayer lives.
First, we must be convinced that prayer has power. If we don’t think our prayer will do anything, then we won’t be motivated to pray, let alone develop a regular habit of praying. The New Testament is clear on this: there is power in prayer! James told his readers this (James 5:16), as did John (1 John 5:14-15) and Mark (Mark 11:24). But what does prayer have the power to do? Prayer gives us peace when we are troubled (Philippians 4:6-7), and deliverance from evil during our struggles with temptation (Matthew 6:13; cp. 1 Corinthians 10:13). Prayer isn’t a chore that we’re burdened with; it is a gift from God that has the power to improve our lives greatly. That power becomes most evident when we approach prayer thoughtfully and deliberately. One practical way to do this is through journaling: write down your anxieties, take time to pray over them, and then reflect on how God provides grace and comfort when we approach His throne (Hebrews 4:16). See the improvement and know that the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
The second way we can work to have a good prayer life is that we can use our prayers as opportunities to praise God. Our prayer has the ability to improve our lives, but prayer is more than just a way for us to ask God for something. Prayer is our opportunity to give God the praise He so richly deserves. When we do this, our relationship with God grows deeper, and our prayer life becomes more consistent. After you’ve prayed to God and have seen the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7), work in real time, don’t miss the opportunity to briefly return to God in prayer and praise Him for His peace and comfort.
The third way to cultivate a meaningful prayer life is by ensuring that our prayers are grounded in God’s Word. As Christians, we want every part of our lives to be rooted in God’s word, and our prayer should be no different. It doesn’t take long for us to find something in the word to praise God for. One helpful way for us to build a good, consistent prayer life is for us to pair our prayer with our reading. Find something in the text of scripture that warrants praise to God, then be consistent in giving God that praise. In addition to teaching us what to praise God for, the word also shapes the requests that we make to Him. In 1 John 5:14, John wrote, “If we ask anything according to His will He hears us.” This not only speaks to the power of prayer, but also shows the importance of aligning our requests to God’s will. How do we know God’s will? Through His word!
All that’s left is for us to do it! Regularly spending time with God in prayer isn’t a boring task; it’s a golden opportunity to communicate with our heavenly Father who loves and cares for us (John 3:16; Matthew 6:25-34). Don’t deny yourself the opportunity to cast your cares on Him while praising His holy name.
Grayson Campbell