Prayer Is ___________.

Have you ever had a talk with a friend or someone that changed your life? We have all had a conversation that changed our reality.

What if?

What if you had 10 meetings over the next 10 days with the 10 most powerful people in the world?  And, what if, because of those conversations, you would have the ability to change the world?  Would you show up to those  meetings?  Would you be thoughtful about the things you talked about and the influence you were about to have?

I have been thinking about prayer recently in those terms.  Prayer is many things and we all have different thoughts and experiences with it, but how would you fill in the blank?

Prayer is _________.

I recently considered some of the things that prayer is or prayer does and made an inconclusive list.  See if you have other ideas as well… .

• Prayer is relationship. Relationships are only as strong as their communication.
• Prayer is investing with unlimited returns.
• Prayer is humility. Grace to humble.
• Prayer is wisdom.
• Prayer is strong.
• Prayer is connection.
• Prayer is restoration to the reason I was made.
• Prayer is a gift.
• Prayer is an invitation.
• Prayer is hunger for something beyond what this world has to offer.
• Prayer is influence.
• Prayer restores my soul.
• Prayer is time with dad.
• Prayer is a conversation. A conversation with The King that blends our hopes with his desires to see kingdom realities come to earth.
• Prayer is a declaration of confidence and recognition of the source of help.
• Prayer is active faith and an invitation to the one who cares more than you do and has the power to save and transform anything.
• Prayer is sending. Sending a missionary, a team, a troop, a doctor, a mom or dad fully equipped to deal with a situation
• Prayer is going. Even from where I’m at right now, prayer puts help in the midst of any situation in any location that I am praying about.
• Prayer is an expression of our confidence and father’s goodness and help.
• Prayer is a safeguard and an invitation to anxiety free living. Philippians 4.
• Prayer is partnership with the heart of the Father to see His desires fulfilled in the earth.
• Prayer is releasing the authority and decrees of the King throughout the land.
• Prayer is about not doing life alone. Prayerless life is life alone without God. I wonder if sometimes he allows a problem just so we will come to him and involve him.
• Prayer reveals our passions, hopes and dreams.

The process of prayer:

1. Help! “God you alone can save, intervene we pray.”

2. Request “Father, we hope and ask for ____________.”
3. Agree and Declare “Your Kingdom come and will be done. We agree with your purpose for this matter and speak it in agreement with You.”

There is a time an place for each one of these and sometimes a scenario can involve all three. I know many times I will run into a situation that will begin with a desperate cry for help. Then it will move to a place of asking for specific needs in the scenario, knowing that He wants to help. Other times, because of scripture and Jesus example, I know what Father wants to do in a situation and will just speak it. Notice that many times Jesus spoke to situations (a tree, to storms, to evil spirits, to bodies, etc.) instead of making a request for Father to do something.
That may be new to you but if you read the book of Acts and in the epistles you will find examples of Jesus followers doing the same as He did, which He said they would do. He wants us to partner with Him to see His kingdom come and will be done here!
A few verses on prayer. … .

• 1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
• Philippians 4:⁶ Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. ⁷ Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
• Eph. 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
• Jude 20 says, “But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
• Matthew 6:9  “This, then, is how you should pray:“‘Our Father in heaven,
  hallowed be your name,
  ¹⁰ your kingdom come,
  your will be done,
      on earth as it is in heaven.
  ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread.
  ¹² And forgive us our debts,
      as we also have forgiven our debtors.
  ¹³ And lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from the evil one.

Break it down!

1. What are some hindrances to or Reasons we don’t pray?
2. What are the things that motivate you to pray? Or what occasions call you to pray?
3. Do you feel prayer is more of a duty or a conversation with Father or a friend?
4. Take a minute to talk to God. 🙂 Ask Him what is on his heart and invite Him into the situations you are thinking about or dealing with right now.

• 5 Keys For Making Prayer a Habit by Kristen Wetherell
• Sacred Moments by Jessica Howell
• Daily Post