I don’t think I talk about my faith enough. In past blogs I’ve mentioned that I’m a Christian. But I don’t talk about it a lot. That should change. My faith and my relationship with God has been a bit of a roller coaster this year. Every year, if I’m being honest. One of the areas that I really wanted to grow in this year was prayer. And I’ve dropped the ball.
Why Prayer Matters
Why does prayer matter so much to me? A few years back I was hit with the reality that my prayer life had become almost non-existent. I had come across some old journals from my early days as a Christian and was floored by the way I wrote out my prayers. The depth, the passion – it was incredible. Then somewhere along the way my prayer life grew stagnant. I would go months without prayer. So, again, why does that matter? Prayer is the way we talk to God. It’s how we ask for things, bring Him glory, and communicate. So, by not praying, I was essentially saying that God is not worth talking to. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
What Happend?
Honestly, I’m not sure what caused my prayer life to take such a hit. Maybe I felt like God wasn’t answering my prayers, so why bother? Or perhaps I simply forgot too many times and let the craziness of life get in the way. It could even be a combination of the two and more. What I do know is that I want that to change. I want to go back to praying with such passion and faith that God can do anything. There are memories I have of praying so passionately for people that we were all brought to tears. Prayer can be so powerful. I want that back.
I Can Change My Prayer Life
This is something that I have to change. It’s not something I can just switch on and suddenly be a powerful prayer warrior again. It takes time, dedication, and discipline. But, I know that it is worth it. How can I teach kids in Sunday school with praying for wisdom, patience and creativity? And do I really want to be a hypocrite that tells others they need to pray when I’m sitting off to the side wondering why I’m not praying more? No, I need to grow my prayer life. Apart from God I can do nothing. So, it’s time I started talking with him more.
It’s in The Bible
Another area I struggle in currently is reading my Bible. However, I know that the Bible is full of people who prayed. They tell others to pray. Jesus himself prayed. There’s even a command to pray without ceasing. So, I should be implementing prayer into my everyday life. After all, I am in no way more powerful and better than God. Not even close. So, if Jesus, who is God, needed to pray, I most certainly need to pray.
Baby Steps
I am very thankful that God is patient and knows our hearts. Because it’s going to be baby steps getting prayer to become a regular part of my day. But, it’s worth it. Does this mean I’ll get everything I pray for? Nope. But, it does mean I will grow closer to God. Yes, regular church attendance and Bible reading is also necessary. But, like I said, baby steps. And work will get in the way of regular church attendance. That can’t really be helped. But I know that if I put the effort in, God will see and reward me. I might not see the reward right away, and it may not even happen in this lifetime. But, I know that God wants to bless me, so why not let him? After all, anything can happen if we pray.
