Prayer

There was a time when I was awkward in my prayers, feeling either self-conscious about my childlike words or stilted because of my stiff, formal words. And then my second daughter was born. She never stopped talking, even as an infant. Her babbling and bubbling and cooing didn’t communicate any brilliant ideas or articulate any deep needs. Yet I delighted in holding her in my lap and listening intently to every sound she made. We were communicating, and I was delighted by her eagerness to talk to me even in the absence of a large vocabulary. We serve a God who invites us to talk with Him. It’s not just a monologue, although that’s okay too. But it’s also a dialogue where He speaks to our heart in ways that surpass language. He is delighted when I want to crawl on His lap and spend time in His presence. On any given day I may or may not have the words, but I bring everything to Him in prayer. I’m not there to demand that He meet my needs. Rather I’m there because I need someone to talk to, and I know He enjoys our exchanges. No matter what situation you face today, mom, take time to sit and talk it over with the God who never slumbers and who is always leaning forward from His throne, eager to spend time with you.

WHEN YOU WONDER IF THOSE SMALL REQUESTS MATTER TO GOD . . .

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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.

WHEN YOU DOUBT THE POWER OF PRAYER . . .

I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you’ve received it, it will be yours.

We are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE PRAYER ISN’T WORKING . . .

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

WHEN PRAYER IS ALL YOU HAVE . . .

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.

WHEN YOU WANT TO LEARN FROM JESUS’ PRAYER . . .

Our Father in heaven,

may your name be kept holy.

May your Kingdom come soon.

May your will be done on earth,

as it is in heaven.

Give us today the food we need,

and forgive us our sins,

as we have forgiven those who sin against us.

And don’t let us yield to temptation,

but rescue us from the evil one.