Making Prayer a Priority-Part 2
PUT PRAYER FIRST
Prayer is one of the most important activities in our lives because we’re actually talking to the sovereign God of the universe. He understands how we feel, knows what we think, and has the power to intervene in every area of life. Our quiet time with God empowers us to face the challenges of each day. When we make prayer a priority, we reap a whole host of benefits like comfort, guidance, and confidence. But an intimate and effective prayer life never happens accidentally; we must intentionally take the following steps.
SCHEDULE A TIME. It can be difficult to focus on prayer when the demands of life are knocking at your door. You may have to rise early in the morning before anyone else is awake, or stay up late at night after everyone else has fallen asleep, to have some quiet time with your heavenly Father.
BELIEVE THE LORD HEARS OUR PRAYERS. We can be confident that God listens to us because He never turns a deaf ear to one of His praying children. It has nothing to do with whether we feel worthy or not. We are all invited to come boldly before His throne of grace.
PRAY FOR OTHERS. Sometimes God gives us a burden to intercede for someone else. Although we may not be able to help, the Lord can.
TRUST IN GOD’S POWER. Jesus said that an earnest prayer of faith has the power to move a mountain (Mark 11:23). No task in harmony with God’s will is impossible to perform when we believe in Him. Whatever He commands us to do, He gives us the strength and resources to accomplish. As our heavenly Father, He’s protecting, supporting, and providing everything we need to obey Him.
PRAY FOR DIRECTION. The Lord wants to guide us into His plan for our lives. If we’ll ask Him for direction, He may not show us the entire course, but He will provide the next step. To receive further instruction, we must be willing to obey whatever He has already revealed. As we keep walking with Him, the path will gradually unfold to us.
PRAY WITH THE WORD. Effective prayer is anchored in the Word of God. If we try to pray without it, our requests may not be wise. But as we consistently read the Bible, the Lord will show us how to pray wisely and according to His will.