Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.
I dislike the words religion and religious. For me, faith is having a relationship with a living God who wants to have a personal relationship with me – not some type of rote performance.
God loves me. He sees me and knows everything I ever go through – the ups and the downs. He wants me to cry out to Him when I am suffering and sad, and He wants me to rejoice and give thanks to Him when I am joyful and happy.
Any kind of relationship requires personal communication to maintain that relationship, especially if you desire any level of quality intimacy.
Prayer is just that: communicating with a living personal in the form of Jesus. Trusting with all of your heart, mind, and soul. Being comforted by that person. Being guided by that person. Being held by that person.
I was introduced to prayer as a young child. But it wasn’t until I was introduced to God’s Word – the Bible – that prayer became the foundation of my reationship with Jesus. God’s Word is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). It penetrates to the very heart of the matter and cuts through any lies that the world would have us believe.
More than anything, God’s ultimate desire for us is the have a personal realtionship with Him. How do we do that? By simply talking. Not only at night before we go to bed. Or only in the morning at the breakfast table. But all throughout our days. In the midst of our worry, and in the midst of our joys. I have an acronym for the word prayer that I hope will resonate with you:
Position yourself. Do you have a relationship with Jesus? Have you surrendered your life to Him, or asked Him to be your Lord and Savior?
Repent. Turn from anything not in line with God’s Word. Ask Him daily to cleanse your heart and renew your spirit.
Acknowledge that He is sovereign. He is always there. He sees you.
Yield to the Holy Spirit. God gave us a gift in the Holy Spirit. Quiet yourself from the noise of the world to hear His Spirit whisper.
Encourage. Build one another up through prayer and by praying for others.
Rejoice! First Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us to “rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances.”
How has the power of prayer played a role in your life?
This is an excerpt from Anne's devotional titled Anne Neilson's Angels: Devotions and Art to Encourage, Refresh, and Inspire
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