Growing up in a Christian Household equipped me with many tools and weapons to navigate the highs and lows of life. Prayer is a practice that I’ve been able to use in both ways. Whether I’m working through tough situations, looking for guidance or fighting temptation, my prayer life has allowed me to persevere and help others do the same. Fortunately I learned how to pray early on, but many don’t know where to start or what to say.
1. Start with the Lord’s Prayer.
Matthew 6:9-13 was one of the first series of scriptures I memorized and still use often. When Jesus was asked how to pray in the Book of Luke, he shared an excerpt of the Lord’s Prayer in Chapter 11, verses 2-4.
“Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.”
Although the Lord’s prayer is a great place to start and encompasses an overview of anything we should ask for in the request for His will to be orchestrated on earth as it is in heaven, it’s acceptable to want to spend more time with God.
2. Continue the dialogue.
Once you get God’s attention with the Lord’s Prayer, take advantage of your opportunity and access to quality time with the savior of the world. While he is many things to us, he is also a friend and you can speak to Him as such.
His presence is with you wherever you go and prayer is an easy way to tap into it. He wants to have a relationship with you and enjoys quality time with his children.
3. Connect to others.
Prayers shouldn’t be centered around your needs and desires, they should include others around you whether you know them or not.
One morning on my way to work I heard Lauren of Air One share advice from her grandmother that I haven’t yet forgotten. “When you pray, watch your eyes.” There are always reasons to pray. Be aware of your surroundings and what’s going on in your community, state and around the world. Pray for your neighbors without being asked.
4. Reference Scripture.
All the answers we need can be found in the bible, as Christians grow in their faith it’s a useful tool that can be used for life. God is faithful to His promises. When you connect scriptures to your prayers it often provides reassurance of who He is and whose you are while ensuring that your requests aren’t self-centered.
5. Show your gratitude.
God knows our needs and the desires of our hearts before we even utter a word, but prayer is also an opportunity to acknowledge our trust in Him and show appreciation for the many blessings we’ve been given from the ability to breathe and read this blog to food and shelter. I always take time to thank God for all he’s done, all that’s in the works and everything to come.
The more you pray the more comfortable you will be spending time Christ? When you strengthen your prayer life you make your relationship with God a priority. When this happens you will see and feel a difference in the way you live and view the world. How do you activate the power of prayer in your life? Share below.
Hugs & Handshakes,
Jasmine C. Tate