The Power of Prayer

Never underestimate the power of prayer.

Prayer is one of the most under utilized tools that we are blessed to have access to. It requires no internet, no data plan, no fancy technology. It only require for us to take the time and talk to God. He knows our hearts, He knows what we need, but we still need to talk to Him.

In the rat race world we live in today, we forget or choose to not take the time to talk to Him. Why? For me personally, it is selfishness. I choose to direct my time to other things, rather than to the one who deserves it the most. Instead, I should choose to lay aside the things I am focusing on and focus on Him.

What happens when I turn to prayer instead of choosing my own way? It causes me to think things through, to be more patient, and to be more accepting. Is it hard? More often than not, yes it is. It is hard to pray and wait. It's also hard when I don't pray through something and the result is the opposite of what I was hoping to achieve. I have learned that if I take a deep breath and say a quick prayer for help, it can help me in times of stress and frustration. It can chill out my anger and help me react in a way that I won't regret later.

One thing that is often forgotten is giving thanks to the Lord for all that He gives us. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 tells us, "in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." A few things that I am thankful for daily are for His forgiveness and grace, salvation, my family, the love we share with one another, and our home. We often turn to the Lord in times of hurt, anger, and need. Seeking His help through our hard times, and that is what we should do, but while doing so, we should also acknowledge the good things that He does in our life, even through the hard times.

Is my life perfect when I pray? Nope, it will not be perfect so long as I'm here on this earth. I'm not striving for a perfect life, but I am striving for a better life. The life that I said I would live when I accepted Christ as my Savior. I will never be perfect, but I can work each day to be a little better. This means remembering and actively seeking a relationship with the Lord, and seeking to praise Him and pray more often. When I actively pray and seek this relationship, I notice a great difference in my life and myself. That, in itself, should be a good enough reason to continue to do so, and that's what I aim to do. I hope that you can, too.

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18