What I am Learning about Prayer

1. Surrounded by deep and real need,  I really am totally helpless and powerless to affect change of any kind.   I cannot make one hair white or black, I cannot change even my own heart and perspective and I cannot heal or comfort or change another person in any real way.
This is profoundly painful and disconcerting but is the beginning of turning to God as a lifestyle of prayer in every situation and need.

7 The time is near when all things will end. So keep your minds clear, and control yourselves. Then you will be able to pray.  I Peter 4:7

Keeping this truth in front of me that I can truly do nothing keeps me in a place where I can pray. When I am filled with worry and all that I think I can do, I find I do not pray.


2.  Prayer is powerful because I can bare my soul before God.  It is the opportunity to know and be known in a loving relationship with a caring Father. This relationship is the one and only place where I am truly understood and heard.  He wants us to talk with him and open our hearts to him and reassure us He is with us. Prayer is the ongoing conversation with Him who loves us.

:Casting all your care upon him because he cares for you.  I Peter 5:7

3.  Prayer does not have to be positive in tone While knowing and believing God is good and is working good,and that he knows what he is doing, there is also active evil and sin working devastation all around.  The psalms are an example of the full range of the human experience being expressed to God.


41 Then Jesus went about a stone’s throw away from them. He kneeled down and prayed, 42 “Father, if it is what you want, then let me not have this cup[d] of suffering. But do what you want, not what I want.” 43 Then an angel from heaven appeared to him to help him. 44 Jesus was full of pain; he prayed even more. Sweat dripped from his face as if he were bleeding.  Luke 22

In this passage, Jesus says he is sorrowful, even to the point of death.  He prayed repeatedly and with strong emotion.  It is okay to pray in great pain and sadness. 

4.  It helps me to focus on coming to God rather than knowing what to say.  Prayer is coming to the God of truth and so I can be truthful and truly say what I am thinking and is on my heart.  God wants to engage in honest dialogue with me and does not reject me for saying what is true even when it is unpleasant.

18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.  Psalm 145:18 NKJV

19 Brothers and sisters, we are not afraid to enter the Most Holy Room. We enter boldly because of the blood of Jesus. 20 His way is new because he lives. It has been opened for us through the curtain. I’m talking about his body. 21 We also have a great priest over the house of God. 22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water.  Hebrews 10:19-22 NIRV

15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Hebrews 4:15 KJV

5.  It is not about me trying to get to God but about not turning away from him who is seeking me

1 Peter 3:18New International Reader's Version (NIRV)

18 Christ also suffered once for sins. The one who did what is right suffered for those who don’t do right. He suffered to bring you to God.