J, as a 1-year-old, will fold his hands for prayer at the dinner table or anytime we say, "Let's pray." M, as a 4-year-old, will sometimes say "Family prayer time!" in the morning before daddy starts work. M got so excited when I offered him his own little spot to pray and work on his coloring page Bible right next to my prayer corner in my bedroom. I love how my kids are prime examples of how much prayer means to our family.
Prayer is a key part of the personal relationship I have with God. It can be like the blessing of talking to a best friend about anything and everything, for hours which feels like minutes, feeling encouraged, supported, and loved. That’s the goal anyway. I didn't always like praying out loud. As my husband would tell you, I would actually do anything I could to avoid it. Going through trials and seeing other’s trials has actually contributed to my current love of prayer. The need is real and God's power is real. Praying and Bible reading are helping me grow spiritually into a stronger tree, slowly but surely...
A strong woman has waited patiently while her roots grew down deep into the Word of God. Over time, she becomes unshakeable in her faith. She starts bearing fruit naturally and is full of life. People are attracted to her strength and growth, and many find rest and peace as they lean on her. And when storms and trials come, as they always do, they will not be able to take her down. A few branches may be lost or pruned away, but in their place comes new growth, new life. This is what I long to be! A strong woman who is anchored in God’s promises. But it starts by setting down your roots in God’s Word. It will not happen as you stand up for yourself, and demand attention, and fight for yourself. It will happen as you stand in Christ, and demand that He gets your attention, and fight for His glory. The beautiful thing is that as we pursue this, God takes His rightful place in our lives. Lisa Chan, You and Me Forever: Marriage in Light of Eternity
With a blizzard's memory sharp in my mind, losing branches takes on a crisp meaning. There was so much ice weighing down those branches. Some just couldn't take the weight, the hard times, so they broke, hopefully not injuring anyone on their way down. But, as time passes, strong trees will grow new and the most beautiful green you've ever seen. Prayer and being in God's Word are what is holding my tree firmly rooted. It gives me a place to go and rest. When I was worried and endlessly fretting about my friends and family's safety during the storm and feeling helpless to help and locked in the temporary ice kingdom, I sat in my closet and prayed. And prayed. And prayed. Through the storm, through all the worries, I learned that there was a hole in my trust in God. Were not these people loved by Him even more than by me? Wouldn't He be able to take care of them when I could not? I learned that I needed to trust God more with taking care of others. I needed to pray like I expected Him to show up for these people. My prayers may not be answered in the way I expect or on my timeline, but that doesn't mean the Son isn't shining. When times are hard, will the weight take me down or will my tree stretch up and look to heaven?
We may not agree on the theology of why or how we pray and we may not have all our prayers answered this side of heaven, but we can all still work on applying the practice as Jesus demonstrated and commanded us to do.
There's still lots of work for God to do in me. And lots to teach my kids. Here are some things I’ve put into practice over time.
Be open to asking how I can pray for others. Pray right then when they ask for it, even when texting. I've loved when this has been done to me.
There are so many ways to pray. Don’t be concerned with what it sounds like. Talk to God, from the heart, about anything and everything. All the time.
Read the Psalms and turn those into my prayers. Replace my name or someone else’s name in the scriptures for prayers.
Let my kids hear my prayers and engage in them when they are old enough. I've been surprised at the depth and concern for others in M's prayers. Pray throughout the day, when anything comes up that needs prayer. When someone's in a bad mood, when we hear a fire truck go by, when toys aren't being shared, when there's lots of crying. Praise Him when there's laughter.
Instead of only praying for circumstances, pray for the person's heart and that the experience can bring them closer to God.
Write out the Lord's prayer or other prayers and put them on my bathroom mirror. Pray when I get up and when I go to sleep. Write prayer requests on my calendar so I’m reminded of them daily.
If my prayer seems stale, switch it up. Try praying in a different place or in a different way. Stop and remind myself of who it is I am praying to.
Thank God, ask for forgiveness, listen, ask him to help me, don't focus just on me. Keep praying till it's answered or God changes my heart's desire. Expect Him to show up.
Write prayer requests and praises down in a notebook or on my phone so I can look back and remember God's faithfulness.
Set up a prayer board full of pictures of family and friends so my kids can look at it and have an idea of who to pray for.
Like in the movie, War Room, set up a corner dedicated to prayer time and put Bible verses and photos on the wall for inspiration and encouragement.
Ask Him in prayer for His peace when my mind is full of worry. Ask Him to refresh and renew my prayer life when needed.
Here are some resources relating to prayer. Please comment with any more that you know of.
Videos
Tim Mackie's sermon on the Lord’s Prayer
Tim Mackie - Prayer for Power
Books
I am thankful that God provided for me and my friends and family through the blizzard. I'm encouraged by all the stories I hear of communities coming together to help each other and new friendships forming or deepening through the trials of the storm.
I pray that prayer takes on a whole new life in all of our hearts. I pray our trees grow strong and firmly rooted. I pray that new, better branches grow after storms. I pray that our eyes be opened to what we can learn from the storms.
How can I pray for you?