This week’s post is by guest blogger and author, Heather Gillis. To connect with Heather and embrace God’s purpose through faith, prayer, and grit, visit her website at www.heathergillis.com.
Have you ever sat down to pray and just didn’t know what to say? Or felt like your prayers were empty and meaningless? Or questioned if God was even listening?
Prayer is one the most important things we can do in our lives, yet when life gets busy, it’s one of the first things we omit out of our daily schedules and what we give up when we do don’t see ‘our prayers working.’
Maybe one of the reasons prayer can be so difficult is because of it’s meaning.
In English, Pray means ‘to ask or beg.’
In Hebrew, the word for Pray tefillah means to ‘self-examine.’ The root word for tefillah is tofel, which means to ‘attach, join or bind together.’
In Aramic, the word for Pray salah means ‘to bow, worship.’
In Greek, the word for Pray proseuchomai means to ‘supplicate, to worship.’
As one can see, the word “pray” has a variety of definitions. So which definition is correct?
The answer is, all of them.
Prayer is way to worship God, to sit before Him to self-examine ourselves, to ask God to intercede on our behalf, and to bow before Him in His presence. Prayer doesn’t have one singular definition and fit into a box. To try to make it fit one singular definition would limit God’s abundant meaning, purpose, and power for prayer. The purpose of prayer isn’t solely to ask God for our own needs or to ‘self-examine’ or just to worship. Prayer goes way beyond all of these things.
Prayer is our invitation to God to open the door for His divine power to move the mountains in our lives and others. Taking our struggles to God through prayer invites Him into our lives, brings us into His presence, and binds us closer together with Him.
So, how do we pray?
God does not judge our prayers. They don’t have to be filled with eloquent words or with verbatim Scripture. We don’t have to be on our knees, bow our heads, or even fold our hands. The prayer posture and how we pray is God’s least concern. God is more concerned about when we don’t pray and the condition of our hearts. Our prayers are a way to get our hearts right with God and communicate with Him. If you struggle with what to say during your prayer time with God, here is a simple tool that may help.
Praise
Repent
Ask
Yield
Praise – If you don’t know what to say, start with the very nature of what prayer is – praise. Some of the best prayers written in the Bible are prayers of praise spoken by David in the Psalms. Start by telling God everything you are thankful for. Praising God first sets our hearts and minds on our Creator and His greatness and puts us in His presence. Praise purifies and softens our hearts so we can hear what God is saying (James 4:6-10).
Repent – Next comes the hard part of what prayer is – repentance. No one likes to admit their wrongs or speak them out loud. Confessing our sins to God opens a door for His forgiveness so we don’t allow sin to reign in our lives, but allow more room for God’s truth and grace. Confession allows us to humbly come before our Lord and lay our burdens at His feet so He can do something greater than we ever could on our own. Confession invites God in to intervene on our behalf. (Matthew 3:8, Isaiah 30:15).
Ask – Next, tell God all that is troubling you. He wants to hear what is in your heart. He wants every part of you, struggles and all. Ask God for help and healing, to supply for your needs, your provision, safety, wisdom, discernment, guidance, and direction. God is always bigger than our struggles and can handle anything we ask of Him. (Phil. 4:19)
Yield – Lastly, yield to God. Submitting our ways to God to His will allows for God’s greater plan to happen through us. Pray for God’s desires to be your desires. At the end of the day, it’s about God’s plans, not ours. (1 Peter 5:6, James 4:7)
We may not always know what to say, but know when we are silent that is what Satan desires for us. “Satan tries to limit your praying because he knows your praying will limit him.” – Zig Ziglar
Next time you pray, don’t allow Satan to keep you silent. Cutting prayer out of our lives cuts our direct communication and relationship off with God, which is exactly what Satan wants. Your prayers matter and make a difference to God. Never stop praying, He is listening.
Call to Action: While there is no “right way” to pray, the Bible outlines how to approach God in prayer and identifies hindrances that may stand in the way of God hearing and responding to our requests. Download 8 Habits for a More Powerful and Effective Prayer Life for helpful guidelines to keep in mind.
Additional Resources:
How to Have Quiet Time with God by Rick Warren
Emergency Bible Numbers Bookmark
Exploring Christianity Book List, Videos, and Bible Reading Plans
Heather and her husband Mac, reside in Colorado with their two living children. When she is not working as a nurse anesthetist, writing, or being a mom, you can find Heather running the trails, reading, camping with her family, spending time with friends or volunteering wherever God takes her! She writes weekly devotionals on her blog about faith, prayer and living life with grit. To read more visit http://www.heathergillis.com.
