THE IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER

Written by Stephanie Garrett

PHILLIPIANS 4:6-7 "BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT IN EVERYTHING BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN TO GOD; AND THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH SURPASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING, WILL GUARD YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.

God's Heart Is Always Ready To Heal His People When We Return To Him.

  I remember when I was young thinking about the importance of prayer. I thought that all the Bible versus about prayer translated to, whatever I want, God will give it to me. Even as I grew older, I still had this thought in the back of my mind and heart. I asked God for things CONSTANTLY. I would start my prayers with just a list of things I wanted God to do for me. Help me lose weight Lord, find me a husband Lord, help me get a better job Lord. The list was unending. I kept wondering why the things that I asked for didn't just magically appear. I would say that quick prayer for Janice as she has surgery on her knee. I was doing the right thing!!! I was praying everyday, so why wasn't I getting what I asked for?

  Flash forward to one Sunday morning at church. The preacher was talking about prayer. He was teaching about not having to use these big words or certain terminology to pray. So, I checked that box. I wasn't doing that. I talk to God with poor excuse of a vocabulary already. The preacher then started talking about recognizing the authority of God first. Ok, well I start my prayers with saying "Dear Heavenly Father", so, check. But then as the pastor went on, he started talking about giving thanks to God in our prayers. I mean, I thanked God every morning for letting me wake up again. That's pretty thankful! As he went on, I realized how many I was actually thankful for each day. I was thankful he had found me a husband, we have successful businesses, we have good jobs, I still have my mother, etc. How in the world had I missed this important part of my talks with God? Why did I think he was just a handout, and when I got what I asked for, I didn't even thank him?? How rude could I be?

  The pastor later in the message started talking about the importance of forgiveness. He reminded me of the verse Matthew 5:44 "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,..". By that point, I had heard this Bible verse so many times. I knew it like the back of my hand. But wait, did I ever actually pray for those who persecuted me? Absolutely not. See God wants us to really pray for those who hurt us. I began to think of the people who hurt me and I began to realize something wild. I do truly need to pray for these people. They have hate and evil in their hearts. I started to pray for them to come to know the Lord. I prayed for their hearts to be softened. I prayed for them to not suffer from hurt like they had inflicted on me. 

 Prayer is so important you see. It's not just acknowledging the Lord and thanking him for waking up and then giving him a long list of wants. It is truly GLORIFYING him. Thanking him for the prayers you have seen him answer and thanking him for the prayers he WILL answer. It is so important to take certain steps when we pray. God wants us to pray for others and not just by saying their name. He wants specific prayers for others. You want to ask him to heal your heart too. Clean your mind. Be set apart. Prayer is a teaching time as well. I've learned that sometimes while I am going through my prayer list everyday, sometimes I need to rest. I need to listen to what God wants to say to me about my prayers. I find myself starting to pray for someone about a specific thing day in and day out. Then, all of a sudden God whispers to me in a still calm voice, "hey, you need to actually pray for this" about a certain person. 

 Prayer is so important in understanding God and yourself. I have learned so many things while I pray. Prayer is not bringing a list of your wants to God. He wants to hear what your heart's desire is, of course. But prayer is a time to listen and learn too. This is your direct connection to him. Pray for the same things and same people everyday. Make a list. Write it down and track what you see answered. Watch what God changes in how you pray for these things. He is listening, but he is also guiding you in prayer. We talk to our loved ones everyday. God expects the same thing from us in order to grow and strengthen our relationship with him. I hope you will stop to think next time you pray and truly appreciate the fact that God is right there. He is always listening. Don't forget to listen to him too.