How does prayer work? Your guide to a healthy prayer life starts now. Prayer. It’s an action word. It’s something you can choose to do. Many will throw out a prayer to God when they need help and that’s absolutely ok, we should do that, but there’s more to prayer than just that, so what is prayer and how does it work? Your guide to a healthy prayer life starts now and it’s easier than you might think! How does prayer work? Here’s a guide to get you started!
How Does Prayer Work?
Your Guide to a Healthy Prayer Life.
What Is Prayer? What is prayer in simple words? How does prayer work? What is a prayer of agreement? Does the power of prayer really work? These are questions you may have been asking yourself about prayer. This is exactly what we are going to outline today, and have no fear, it’s not as difficult as you may think!
The dictionary defines prayer as a devout petition. It is spiritual communication between you and your creator, God. Plain and simple, prayer is talking to and with God. The Bible says we are all God’s children. 1 John 3:1 “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God!” Think about it, let’s say you love your earthly dad and because you love him you spend time talking to him and listening to what he has to say to you, that is exactly what prayer with God is like.
God is God, He doesn’t need anything, but He created us for fellowship, ie to hang out with. We are His kids and like any dad, He enjoys spending time with us. When you think about the fact that the God of the universe, the Creator, calls you His child and wants to spend time with you that’s pretty amazing! Prayer time has many benefits for us.
We can offer up prayer for strength, prayer for healing, a prayer for our schoolwork, prayer for our everyday life, or a prayer for peace and protection, and even a prayer for today. We can pray and ask God for anything that concerns us. Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerns me; Your mercy, O Lord, endures forever; Do not forsake the works of Your hands. The God of Heaven, TRULY cares about you. In fact, 1 Peter 5:7 says “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for us.”
How Do I Begin My Spiritual Journey of Praying?
What is a simple prayer? What is praying to God? There are SO many questions we have ALL had regarding prayer. Let me start off by saying that prayers do NOT have to be long winded. Prayers can be short. You can pray short yet powerful prayers. God is good with all of that! He wants to spend time with you and since He is on the throne in Heaven, prayer is our way of communicating with Him. As believers in Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit lives inside of us and He helps us with our prayer life and in our walk with the Father.
So today, let’s begin. Your guide to a healthy prayer life can begin today, right now. The apostle John said, “but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Jesus himself said, through John in John 3:15-17 “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. And finally in Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
It’s that simple. The Bible says in Numbers 23:19 “God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” Believing in and acting upon the verses shared here is the foundation of your relationship with God in prayer and the beginning of a beautiful friendship with your Creator, Sustainer, Provider, and Father. Don’t lump Him in with your earthly dad, who has most likely fallen short of perfect. He is God and God is love. Your earthly dad may have let you down or not been present at all in your life, that is not what your Father God is like at all! He loves you and SO wants to hear from you, so talk to Him. Tell Him what’s on your mind and the things that have you worried and things you’re concerned about. Ask Him to show up and show Himself real to you.
How Does Prayer Work?
Helpful Tips To Have A Strong Prayer Life
Some find it helpful to spend time writing down some of these concerns and the date they began talking to God about them. It’s amazing and extremely encouraging to see when the Lord answers! It’s also freeing to simply write them down. There is something that happens when we put it on paper; it helps to get them out of your head and off your mind! You also may want to get out your Bible if you have one and start reading through the book of John to learn more about Jesus and what He did while He was here, and be encouraged by how He healed and cared for people then and still does today. If you need a bible you can find one here
The Benefits of Prayer
Peace And Reassurance Are Found In Jesus
Need peace? Reading through the Psalms or the book of Ephesians will be of great reassurance to you. Prayer doesn’t always have to be with words. I believe the Lord hears the cry of our hearts and our thoughts and emotions can also be prayers lifted to Him, or even written down as mentioned above. Listening to inspirational worship music also brings peace and comfort and can move you to pray for the things that are on your mind, and release you from the heavy burdens you are carrying.
In the meantime, here are a few verses on prayer you may find helpful:
Prayers for peace – Philippians 4:6-7 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God, and the peace of God which passes all understanding will guide your hearts and minds in Christ.
Prayers for guidance – Luke 11:9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
Prayers for wisdom -Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
Prayers for strength – Matthew 6:9-13 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Prayers for diligence – Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
Prayers for help – Hebrews 4:6 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Prayers for healing -Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
More Prayers for healing – James 5:14-15 “Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.”
Talking to God is not scary, God is love and love is peace. You will learn the rhythms of His grace and peace when you start spending some time with Him. He says, Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” Find a place to get alone for a few minutes each day and talk to God. Pray and tell Him what’s on your heart and mind. Let Him know the stress you feel and give it to Him.
The amazing thing about prayer and spending time with God is that He offers the “great exchange”, He will take your hurts, pain, and brokenness, and in turn give you hope, peace and comfort. In Matt. 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
In the book of Romans 15:13, He says, “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Living the Christian life IS the greatest adventure you will EVER embark on! Take a step of faith, say that prayer, learn to trust your Heavenly Father and walk in peace knowing He’s got it, and you’re gonna be just fine!
I hope this simple guide to prayer and a relationship with God has been comforting to you. Prayer is simply talking to your Father God. He loves you friends!
If you would like help understanding how to strengthen and deepen your relationship with God or would like more resources feel free to reach out to me at [email protected]
If you would like to learn more about freedom from anxiety I have written the following article:
A Holistic Approach to Healing From Anxiety
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