The power in our prayers is not in our words, but from God. It’s God’s will that is carried out and his power by which prayers are answered. God asks us to pray and he is the one who credits it’s importance. Through prayer God is involving us in what he is already doing. So the power of prayer cannot be underestimated and it’s power doesn’t come from just our own efforts.
Prayer is fueled by faith. Otherwise, why pray? It is part of our relationship with God and part of how he uses us and works through us. No one can comprehend the full extent to which God works through prayer. He draws us closer and others closer through it.
A great tip for praying in the present is to pray more simply. We can use short prayers to engage with God in the present because he is always present with us. Some examples include:
- Lord, thank you for this day. It’s so warm and bright and beautiful!
- God… Thank you for your Son. I love you.
- Wow, that person was so rude, Lord. Please help them get through this day.
- I have no patience today. God, please give me the patience I need to get through this.
- Lord, this person is upsetting me so much. Please help me to be kind. I really don’t feel like dealing with this right now.
- God, I don’t know what to do about this. How do I solve this?
- God, I know you are seeing this too. What is happening? Help us!!
- Lord, I am so tired. I need you to help me get through the rest of today. Please.
I have said many of these prayers before. One day I was so busy at work and I had zero energy left. I prayed as I worked asking God for the strength. It wasn’t instant, but I managed to do all my work and felt well at the end of my shift. I was also engaging with what I knew about God: He is always with me. I am doing the work he has called me to do and He will help me to complete it. Praying in the present helps us connect God to our current circumstance in our hearts and minds.
Prayer is an area where legalism can creep into our lives and requires care to be done wholeheartedly. Saying these shorter, simpler prayers can feel like you are breaking some rules about prayer. Praying in private is important (Matthew 6:6), but not a rule or requirement for prayer. I want to encourage prayer throughout the day, while working, while resting, while cooking, while driving, etc. We can pray about any moment and within any moment of our lives.
God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble. Psalm 46:1 CSB
I personally do not have the best memory so I created a habit of praying prayer requests in the moment silently within my heart. We often can request prayer or say we will pray for someone and then never think much of it again. Pray in the moment over the person or with that person. Why wait till later? I, myself, have received great prayers that were prayed out loud over me in the moment and those really impacted me. It’s awesome to know people are praying for you, but when you really hear their words with your own ears it’s really impactful. I admit I have trouble praying out loud in front of people because I feel self-conscious, but this is something I am working on. Hearing others pray has really inspired me to pray more and pray over others.
Using words from scripture are very helpful for praying in the moment. I use phrases from several verses I know. Many times I pray “…and God I ask this because you are the only God I know. Only you are able to do this thing” which is a reference to Isaiah 45 where God says again and again “I am the LORD, and there is no other.” I also think of Ezekiel 12:2 when I pray for a person’s salvation asking God to “please give them the eyes to see and ears to hear the Gospel and believe.”
God is so powerful and he cares for us. It is amazing how he hears all our prayers and considers what we ask and say. We walks with us through every step of this life. May we all learn to pray without end.
Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath! Psalms 116:2 NLT
Prayer is an amazing activity we as believers are able to do. We can engage with our Heavenly Father at any moment. No matter how we feel, we can come to him. He loves us deeply as his children and hears our pleas and cries for help. “God is mighty to save” (Zephaniah 3:17).
