30 Days of Prayer: Pray Often to Develop a Strong Prayer Life (Day 17) - Be Whole, Mom

Do you have a strong prayer life?  I know it might seem oxymoronic to ask this in the midst of a Prayer Series, but the question remains.  How strong is your prayer life, and do you see the fruits of your prayers in your life?

This 30 Days of Prayer series is a bump to help motivate you in the movement for prayer, but truly, we are to be people of prayer as those who profess a faith in Christ!  I know that this might go against much modern behavior, especially since it is a spiritual discipline, but the results are worth the effort.

For many years I have been called to various seasons of prayer, some far more intense than others.  I have experienced spiritual attacks, and believe even demonic attacks with visual apparitions.  You know what I’ve learned?  The enemy has nothing on the power of God.  Though he might throw everything he has our way, he has NO power over us when we realize the power that is IN us!

THIS is the hardest concept to grasp for us, especially in our earliest years in the walk.

But, here’s what I can promise you.  1) You will NEVER regret the decision to actively engage in a deeper prayer life.  EVER.  2) Your relationship with the Lord will grow deeper than you ever imagined.  3) You will see things happen that you never thought could ever occur.  And, 4) you will have the opportunity to be part of the life-changing effects that spiritual warfare provide in this world.

Sweet sister, it’s time to don your battle gear.  Put on your armor, because we are going to battle.  It’s time to FIGHT.

There are many different ways to pray.  Each one counts in its own merit and right.  Depending on the season of life that you are in, the Lord may call you to one form of prayer over another.  But, if He is prompting you to dig deeper, and to connect with Him more fervently, I encourage you to not be afraid.

…submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” ~ James 4: 7

The central most critical concept to continually work to internalize and understand is that because I have claimed the name of Christ as my Savior, I am free from the bondage of sin and the consequences of death.  Satan has NO power over me.

The problem is, though, that this idea takes time and work to flesh out!

I liken it to a little child who has learned their ABCs.  When would we say that they have mastery of the language?  When would we agree that they have a solid understanding of the ABCs and how to use them within the fabric of their living?  It takes time, right?

In the same way, when we become believers, we are given the ABCs of faith and a walk with Christ.  But, it takes time and work to put these things to practice, to study, and to be renewed in the mind.  These actions are the foundations that truly transform our entire being so that the reality of our faith is in effect in our lives.

This transition of identity, though, is best accomplished through a strong prayer life.

Now, there are a lot of different views regarding various means of prayer.  From my best study I would say that there are just a lot of different ways to pray, and none are more right or better than another.  It seems to me that there are just some types that are more appropriate for the situation.  This is what takes discernment to determine how to fight effectively.

We must first seek the Lord and what He would have us to pray over and about.

Some seasons of my life have been intense seasons for intercessory prayer.  I have felt intense burdens on my soul, a heaviness and looming that I cannot explain except for to say it was “a feeling of impending doom.”  These seasons taught me much about this feeling, and that when I feel it I am being called to prayer.

Sometimes I may not even know why I needed to pray, so at those times I learned to ask the Spirit for what to pray, and then follow His leading.

One thing I can for sure say is that the Lord will continue to lead you one step at a time.  Follow closely to Him as He leads, while combining your prayer time with the reading of the Word in your life.  The culmination of the two will result in a strong and vibrant faith, for sure.

Encouragement for a Strong Prayer Life

Have you ever met a person who just exuded confidence and trust in the Lord?  I can assure you that the person has a long history of a strong prayer life.  I specify the concept of “history,” as it is the longevity of an always deepening relationship with our Abba that precipitates a fortified faith life in Him.

As we walk with God over the span of life, He proves Himself over and over again to us as trustworthy.  The more we experience His provision, the greater our trust in Him grows.

A strong prayer life provides a path to hear clearly, see without confusion, and to know the way to go.  Prayer is our dialogue between us and God.  It is both the chance for us to say what we need today to Him, and to listen intently to what He might want to say to us.

Prayer provides a cleansing of the soul that we may have our mind’s eye opened.  Then we can see clearly when He is showing us something we need to see.

The Lord even refers to His holy mountain as a “house of prayer” (Is. 56: 7), a point which Yeshua reminds them of when He rises up against the profiteers in the temple courts in Mark 11: 17.

Yahweh repeatedly calls His children to return to Him in prayer.  He desires the actionable work of a strong prayer life in His people.  Surely, He understands better than we do the effects that this has in the world.  The work of prayers in the spiritual realm affects the reality of the physical world we engage with day after day.

If we want to see real change in this world, we must first start with taking our prayer lives seriously.

A Selection of the Top Bible Verses that Encourage Prayer

Is anyone among you in trouble?  Let them pray.  Is anyone happy?  Let them sing songs of praise.  Is anyone among you sick?  Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.  The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.  Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.” ~ James 5: 13-18

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.  Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should.” ~ Col. 4: 2-4

“Hear my prayer, Lord;

let my cry for help come to you.

Do not hide your face from me

when I am in distress.

Turn your ear to me;

when I call, answer me quickly.” ~ Ps. 102: 1-2

“[The people who obey my commandments] I will bring to my holy mountain

and give them joy in my house of prayer.” ~ Is. 56: 7

“However, this kind [of demon] does not come out except by prayer and fasting.” ~ Matt. 17: 21

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” ~ John 5: 14

“…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ~ 2 Chron. 7: 14

“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ~ Eph. 6: 18

“Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” ~ Jer. 29: 12

“And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.” ~ Matt. 6: 7

“The LORD detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.” ~ Provides. 15: 8

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” ~ Rom. 12: 12

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” ~ Phil. 4: 6

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” ~ James 5: 16

“I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people—  for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” ~ 1 Tim. 2: 1-2

Begin the Journey to a Strong Prayer Life Today

I know that it might feel impossible at times.  If so, you likely have skewed expectations in your mind about a strong prayer life.  God honors the heart of the one making the requests, even if your prayer time is short as needed.

Start where you are and do not compare your life to another’s.  Let the Spirit lead you in this, and trust the peace that wants to give you rest.  Reject abusive contentions that desire to ensnare you in legalism.

Today you can begin the strengthening of your inner walk with the Lord through prayer.  Over time you will be amazed at where it has gotten you.  Just like a weight lifter must start lifting an appropriate amount for their condition at the beginning of training, so do we show wisdom in doing what we can as we can.  In time the weight lifter reveals more defined muscles and an increased stamina and strength for heavier weights.

We too are “working out” the Spirit within us and strengthening our spiritual muscles.  Through this, we develop a strong prayer life over the course of this life.

A little here, a little there, as we are able, and more as we can, too, we show honor to God above all else and set a foundation for a life devoted to Him.

Abba, Father, thank you for the reminder that my prayer life is important for my walk with You.  Help me to prayer for frequently and to grow my prayer muscles.  I want to “fight the good fight” in the spiritual realm.  May my heart be always bent in Your direction, and may my prayers be answered readily that my faith may be continually strengthened.

Please, may my efforts be honored, even if far from where I truly want them to be.  I often get frustrated because I cannot offer hours upon hours of prayer to You, and feel like that is what I am “supposed” to do.  I look forward to seeing You answer my prayers.  Speak to me the things that You wish for me to hear.  Continue to make me receptive to Your voice.  In Your Son’s Name I pray, amen.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” ~ Eph. 3: 20-21

Shalom.