12 Days of Christmas: Day 8
She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
(Luke 2:37)
Prayer seems to be one of the most difficult commands given in Scripture, and yet, it is one of the greatest gifts God has given to us. We, through the blood of Jesus, have access to God’s ear! But we often take it so lightly. We are too busy in our minds to pray. We are too busy in our hearts to pray. We are too busy in our bodies to pray. We are just too busy. Our behavior says that we believe that all of our activity is of greater importance than spending time with the Creator of the Universe who just happens to love us greatly! Something is wrong with this picture!
Here are just a few of the many promises God gives us in His Word relative to prayer:
The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness.
(James 5:16)
Call on me in prayer and I will answer you. I will show you great and mysterious things which you still do not know about.
(Jeremiah 33:3)
The LORD is near all who cry out to him, all who cry out to him sincerely. He satisfies the desire of his loyal followers; he hears their cry for help and delivers them.
(Psalm 145:18–19)
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:6–7)
The Bible is filled with examples of prayer! Abraham was a prayer warrior, David was a prayer warrior, and Paul was a prayer warrior.
Even Jesus was a prayer warrior:
Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.
(Mark 1:35)
Jesus was always going off to pray. If it was important enough for him to do it, how much more important it is for us! His prayer life was so effective that His disciples asked Him to teach them to pray.
How do we make a practical application here? While I am no expert, I have found the following helpful in my own prayer life:
- Praise and glorify God for who He is—all-power, all-knowing, always with me, slow to anger, abounding in love.
- Praise and thank God for His goodness—He is pleased with our gratitude for all of His blessings.
- Seek to empty yourself of any bias so that you may sincerely ask for His will in all circumstances.
- Pray Scripture back to God. There are some wonderful prayers by Paul in Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians (as well as many other places in Scripture). You can actually insert people’s names and circumstances into the prayers.
- Persevere! I have been praying for some things for years. I continue to pray as long as something burdens my heart! God does not weary of my voice; I know He likes me to call on Him.
- Be totally open! You can share all that burdens you. God already knows your heart; he is simply waiting for you to talk to Him! God will never make you feel small or silly, his desire is to bestow on you unbelievable peace, joy, and contentment.
God loves you. The best part of prayer is that we are spending time with Him. A relationship is everything. I hope these prayer tips will encourage you to grow in your walk with God.
Become More
“In prayer, it is better to have heart without words, than words without heart. Prayer will make a man cease from sin, or sin will entice a man to cease from prayer. The spirit of prayer is more precious than treasures of gold and silver. Pray often, for prayer is a shield to the soul, a sacrifice to God, and a scourge for Satan.” —John Bunyan
Read the Word
Luke 2:36–38
2:36 There was also a prophetess, Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old, having been married to her husband for seven years until his death. 2:37 She had lived as a widow since then for eighty-four years. She never left the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. 2:38 At that moment, she came up to them and began to give thanks to God and to speak about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.