A Time for Prayer is Now
“Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you.
You will seek me and find Me, when you seek Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (ESV)
Many times I have been told, “Tracy, you are such a prayer warrior” and often people ask me to pray for a situation they are dealing with. At these times I am always grateful for the suffering that has developed my prayer life. Because that’s where I have learned to pray, in the suffering.
I love to pray with others. My outgoing personality is often what opens the door for me to ask a total stranger if I can pray for them. Only once has a stranger said, “No thank you.” Instead people are really touched that a stranger or someone they barely know would pray with them. When a friend requests prayer I most likely will stop the conversation right there and pray with them. In my business prayer is usually how a meeting begins or closes. Prayer is a time when I sense the very presence of God deep in my heart. Whether praying with others or alone I am always assured that God hears and then HE is at work in that prayer. Praising, thanking, confessing sin, and asking for help, wisdom, or guidance are forms of my prayers.
Yes my bold, strong and passionate prayer life came through personal suffering. Most of that has been through watching and living with loved ones suffering with mental illness. Many times turned to prayer when answers were not found or the situation became very difficult. It is in seeking God and searching Him for answers, peace is found. The result of my prayer is not always a solution or fix to what is prayed but peace. Without that peace it is nearly impossible to find a solution or answer.
I have had many opportunities to practice and strengthen my prayer life.
I still long to have a deeper prayer life.
COVID-19 has changed our daily lives, business and our world. I hope it is changing our prayer life. Yes this pandemic is frightening, lives are being lost, negative economic effects are already being tallied, normal daily life as we knew it a few weeks ago has halted. Education has gone from the classroom to the home. These are just a few of the reasons many are responding in fear and even panic. I have also noticed something else, people are praying!
I am moved by the increase of prayer in our homes, churches, community and the nations. It is obvious more people are praying and praying people are at it more. Some people are learning to pray. I sense people are praying to accept Christ as their Savior, taking their fears to the throne of God and placing their trust in the One who causes the sun to rise everyday.
Corporate prayer will be deep and effective when private prayer is practiced. Some are uncomfortable praying with others or even unsure how to pray alone. I promise you practicing prayer will grow your prayer life. If you set your desire to draw near to God through prayer He will respond in a way that will amaze you.
One of my first realizations of this came when my adult children were young. Recognizing my weakness of impatience I often prayed for patience. I quickly modified that prayer as my patience was tested more frequently! “Consider It all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” James 1”1-2
If growing your prayer life is your heart’s desire then start with praying more scripture. Prayer is mentioned at least 375 times in the Bible, Daniel 9 is a beautiful prayer. Nehemiah -- an Old Testament prayer warrior -- records beautiful prayers throughout his life; Nehemiah chapters 1:5-6, 1:11, 2:4b, 4;9, 5:19, 6:9b, 9:5b-7, 9:32a, 13:14, 13:22b, 13:31b. The book of Psalm is where I often turn to pray God’s word; some of my favorites are Psalm 5, 8, 17:6-19, 18:2-3, 19, 27 and actually just begin praying the book of Psalm everyday, pick one a day.
Luke 11 records a time when Jesus taught his disciples to pray. His most beautiful prayer to me is Luke 23:24 - “forgive them Father, for they know not what they do. And they cast lots to divide his garments.” (ESV) Prayer is where forgiveness starts, but that is an entire devotion for another day!
“If my people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will
hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV)
“Let my prayer be set before you as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. “
Psalm 141:2 (NKJV)
Are you ready to take your prayer life to a deeper place? If so start by praying Psalm 63 and leave a comment below.