A Call for Powerful Prayers
As I rolled out of bed a few mornings ago I received a text from a friend asking for prayer. She was speaking at a retreat and wanted her core group of prayer warriors to pray for her and the women she was speaking to. I knew she needed powerful prayers so I texted back, ‘I’m praying,’ and then immediately did so.
After I finished praying and lifting her up I continued follow the text thread. I read some of the eloquent prayers texted back to her and wondered why I hadn’t done the same thing. What had kept me from responding with my own written prayer?
Finding Just the Right Words
I suppose I thought I needed just the right words. I couldn’t believe I hesitated. All my friend needed was a prayer offering encouragement, inspiration, and protection and I replied with the small words, “I’m praying.”
It was then I realized I don’t hesitate to pray aloud to God when I’m alone. I guess it’s because I know He doesn’t care about the perfect words or thoughts, the mess ups or the failure to follow through. But He does care about me and my heart. I feel comfortable speaking directly to Him in my quiet time because I know He lives in me. I know that regardless of the words I use, my prayers can be powerful. Sometimes I just don’t know where to start.
God’s Word tells us in Philippians 4:6 NIV, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Christ wants us to bring all of our requests to Him, and He doesn’t want us to hang on to the anxious thoughts, fear, or doubt that we sometimes hold onto like a badge of honor. Instead, He wants us to freely lay our prayers and petitions before Him and be confident in His promises.
Pour Out Your Heart
Prayer is a blessing, but sometimes I turn it into a burden when I worry more about my words than God’s Will. He assures us in Romans 8:26 that it doesn’t matter if we don’t know how or what to pray, He does our praying for us.
Tweet ThisJesus, better than anyone, understood the pressures, pain and inadequacies we feel as humans. During His toughest moments His prayers were the most passionate and powerful.
Despite my shortcomings and failures, God’s love wraps me in His protective hands and brings a precious time of fellowship when I pray to Him. I’m eternally grateful for our time together.
Conversing with God
As I continue developing my prayer life I long to pray powerful prayers. I savor the opportunities to communicate with my Heavenly Father in the most intimate way. I don’t want it to ever be about me speaking words of perfection, but instead about giving Him my heart and soul so He can work perfectly in me. During my time with God I can be candid, transparent, emotional, and yes, even vulnerable because He knows me from the inside out.
The Rev. Billy Graham once said, “When we come to the end of ourselves, we come to the beginning of God.” This quote reminds me that I’m continuing to shift my thinking from ME thoughts to His thoughts. It’s about setting my pride aside and telling Him about my day. It’s about thanking Him for what went right and admitting when I messed up and things didn’t go as planned. But if I get out of His way, His work in me can be done.
Prayers Matter
That’s how prayer works. It’s about Him answering our requests in the way He knows is best. It’s about His timing, His Will, and His directing our steps My prayers do matter because God shows me His goodness every single day.
Blessings!
Mitzi, I love your words of “being real.” Thank you for sharing the stirring of your heart. I so understand your words, friend. Willing hands and open hearts to His prompts in the small steps he lights up for growth in our lives. I love you. I miss you.
This post is so good my sweet sister. I needed this and I know how you felt that morning. I’ve been there. This encouragement has blessed me. Thank you so much! Blessings to you
Sydell
I got into the habit of doing the same thing as you. When someone texted or posted up something on Facebook that they were needing prayer for, I comment back with “praying”. The other day I did something different, I thought on the text a friend sent me then about 30 minutes later I texted back a prayer. She responded with hearts “thanks so much, it means so much”. I realized that this needs to become my habit. I often wonder how many people that type they are praying actually stop and pray right then. Or maybe they jot it down to pray later but later never comes. Taking time out to actually type out a prayer to the person not only warms their heart in a different way then just to say “praying” but it also gets us in a habit of praying on the spot. I know we can’t always type out a long prayer but I believe that if we stop and ask God to give us some words for the person that He will provide the right response for us. Thanks for always taking the time to share you heart Mitzi. Blessings to you and yours!
Thank you Brandy! Your words means so much. I agree, sometimes it just takes me a few more minutes to write the words I believe God has put on my heart. I always want to be sensitive to others and pray for them. Some days the list gets long, but people’s needs are real and prayer warriors can step in or go before them in prayer. Every word matters. Blessings to you.