Today, we’re talking about one of the most powerful gifts God has given us—prayer. Prayer isn’t just something we do before meals or at church; it’s a direct line to our Creator. It’s where battles are won, hearts are changed, and faith is strengthened. Yet, many of us struggle with prayer—either we feel like we don’t know how or we wonder if God is even listening. Today, we’re going to explore what prayer is, why it matters, and how we can grow in it.
Matthew 6:6 says, “But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Wherever you are in your prayer life—whether you’re confident or struggling—I encourage you to lean in today. God is always ready to listen!
"Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." — 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
Prayer is not about fancy words or rituals—it’s simply talking with God.
We can pray anytime, anywhere, about anything. I know when I was younger, I thought we had to pray just right, but now, as my relationship with the Lord has grown, I am better able to just come to Him as though the conversation never ends. I am thankful for a God who listens.
So, I want to encourage you to start a conversation with God throughout your day, even in simple moments—like while driving or doing dishes.
How often do you find yourself talking to God outside of formal prayer times?
Jesus gave us a model for prayer, not a script to repeat mindlessly.
In Matthew 6:9-15, we have an example given to us as the Lord’s Prayer on how to pray.
The Lord’s Prayer teaches us to honor God, seek His will, ask for provision, and extend forgiveness.
Use the Lord’s Prayer as a framework—pause at each part and personalize it for your life. I find that to make prayer easier, I will pray Scripture, and with that, I’m speaking truth in prayer by praying the words of the Lord. It also helps me keep my prayer from being off-the-wall thoughts.
How can you use the Lord’s Prayer to deepen your conversations with God?
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." — Jeremiah 33:3
Prayer isn’t just about talking; it’s also about listening.
God speaks through His Word and His Spirit. We can forget to listen when praying because we may feel like we have to fill the space with something so that we have comfort, but really, just like in any relationship, when you can sit comfortably in silence, then so much can be said and heard.
After praying, take a moment to sit in silence and listen for God’s voice.
When was the last time you paused to listen in your prayer time?
If prayer is our connection to God, then why do so many of us struggle with it? Maybe we wonder if it makes a difference, or we only pray when things get tough. But prayer isn’t just for emergencies—it’s how we align our hearts with God’s will and experience His power in our lives.
"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing." — Psalm 143:10
Prayer isn’t about getting God to do what we want—it’s about aligning our hearts with what He wants.
The more we pray, the more we start to see things through His perspective, and we know that through the Spirit’s lead, we can move forward in confidence.
When praying, ask God, “What do You want me to learn from this situation?”
How has prayer changed your heart, even when circumstances didn’t change?
Prayer replaces anxiety with peace.
"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." — Philippians 4:6-7
Even if the problem isn’t solved immediately, prayer reminds us that God is in control. It is in the praying and having faith that God is in control that we can sit in the peace that God is giving us. We can be confident that we were heard by our Father and know His timing is perfect.
The next time you feel stressed, stop and pray instead of worrying, and know that God’s guidance and peace will exceed anything we could ever understand.
How has prayer helped you find peace in difficult moments?
"I love the Lord because he hears my voice and my prayer for mercy. Because he bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!" — Psalm 116:1-2
In the beginning part of 2021, we had a rough six months. There was an illness that swept the nation, and everyone was affected. No money was coming in for us as my husband and I were stepping in faith for what the Lord wanted us to do, and a freeze was happening. But through it all, we had peace. To say we were struggling is an understatement, and we were expecting the worst, but still, we had peace. Our plans don’t always work, and God changes things in the most unexpected ways sometimes, but all that we have gone through brought us exactly to where God had planned all along. Prayer gave us peace through all that uncertainty.
God hears us, and so, through all circumstances, we need to pray.
Track God’s faithfulness, and when you do, you will notice His hand in all things. You will then understand why you may have had more peace than you thought you should.
What is one prayer in your life that God has answered?
Prayer is like a muscle—the more we use it, the stronger it gets! But sometimes we hit a rut, and prayer feels repetitive or dry. Let’s talk about ways to keep our prayer life fresh and growing.
"Then Jesus told them, ‘I tell you the truth, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. You can pray for anything, and if you have faith, you will receive it.’" — Matthew 21:22
Pray boldly! God invites us to bring our requests with faith. When we come in faith, we know that God’s ways are true and holy, and in that, we can stand firm in His answer for us.
God answers in His way and His time, but He always hears us.
When praying, don’t just ask—believe that God is moving, even if you don’t see it yet.
Do you pray with expectation or hesitation?
Prayer isn’t just for Sunday mornings—it’s meant to be part of our daily routine.
"Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice." — Psalm 55:17
The more we pray, the more natural it becomes. The more we pray, the more we pray because we know that God hears us.
Set reminders throughout the day to stop and pray, even if just for a moment.
What’s one way you can build prayer into your daily life?
"Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere." — Ephesians 6:18
Prayer isn’t just for us—God calls us to pray for others, too.
Interceding for someone else strengthens our faith and builds community.
Ask someone today, “How can I pray for you?”—and actually do it.
Who is someone in your life that needs your prayers today?
Today, we’ve talked about what prayer is, why it matters, and how we can grow in it. The truth is, prayer changes things—most importantly, it changes us.
No matter where you are in your prayer life, just start. Talk to God, listen for His voice, and trust that He hears you.
Prayer isn’t our last resort—it’s our first response!
Keep the conversation going with God today. Have a blessed day!