Pop Quiz on Prayer

Prayer is such an important part of my life that I can’t even imagine one day without it! It was through prayer that I have received physical healing. It is while I prayed that I saw my future husband’s face in my mind and later became Kemi Searcy. Prayer has defied the wiles of Satan, resurrected the dead, and created unity where there was strife. What does prayer mean to you?

How do you define prayer? What do you think?

• Is the point of prayer the answers you seek?
• Is prayer the place that you turn to God when things are tough?
• Is it where you acknowledge you are God’s by wanting to talk with Him?
• Is prayer where you let God know that you trust Him over anything else?

Having said all of this, most Christians are challenged when it comes to prayer. They get bored quickly. Perhaps you have even fallen asleep mid-sentence. Answer the following:

• How often do you pray? Do you have separate times set aside?
• Do you throw up quick bits of prayer during your day?
• Do you reach out to pray only when you are in need, not when the blessings are flowing?
• What prompts you to pray?

Religion has formalized prayer over the centuries to often be a stiff, one-way diatribe from man to an invisible Being. This is quite different than how the First Century apostles’ viewed prayer. Today, many people misuse scripture to explain why our prayers are not answered, disregarding what the Bible bluntly says. Religion-centered Christians have negatively affected how relationship-centered Christians use prayer. Let’s change that!

First, when you seek God in prayer, quit pretending you are something that you are not. Tear down your religious, emotional, mental and spiritual walls. You can’t play it safe with God in the room. Come in honesty about who you are at the moment. Check out David getting real with God in Psalm 12:1 – Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; or Psalm 13 – How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?

Second, determine if you interject faith or doubt while praying. Do you quickly think of why He won’t be answering your requests? God does not need you to apologize for Him; “Maybe God will say no.” “Maybe I am not in His will.” “ It just isn’t His timing.” Bible verses speak about His will, timing and choice, but don’t use them incorrectly. If you are immersed in Him, you will have God on your side. Psalm 103:5 – He satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Pray, loving His will more than your own, and honestly desiring good blessings from His hand. Let prayer spill from your heart as you would to a close friend – blunt, but not disrespectful, speaking plainly your desires.

Third, increase speaking Scripture to Him. Let verses fill your prayers because He has said what His will is for us. Then the works of God will increase. David prayed for everything … simple daily personal needs and nation-wide requests. Find verses that speak to your anger, disappointment, or fears. Answers are in print, waiting for you to use. Like David, follow your requests with foundational statements about God’s ability to answer. Psalm 109:30-31 – … I will greatly extol the LORD; in the great throng of worshipers I will praise him. For he stands at the right hand of the needy …

Finally, calculate the time you spend loving God versus conducting a business meeting of requests and needs. It is incredible that God wants to be your Best Friend through Jesus and your Almighty King of Kings. If you are going to gossip – do it with God, who can enter the situation from a divine perspective that you don’t have. He’ll change your juicy story into a point of prayer. Who else could do that?

God is answering your prayers. Your petitions are not hitting the ceiling and bouncing back. That’s because God cares deeply for you – His love started before you were born. Give Him time to speak. He can give direction in your prayer closet, on the way to work, or during a tough conversation. Just keep listening for His voice.

Know that God is not bound by time to answer prayers – we are. The process of getting the answer is often just as important as the answer itself.

What testimonies do you have of your prayer life with God? Share these best stories with others! Enjoy your Creator and become more like Hm as you bond in prayer.

The point of prayer – engaging the atomic power of knowing God.

Woman of God – 5…4…3…2…1 – Pray!