20/20 Vision Day 21 - Your Prayer Life

There are numerous stories in the Bible of people calling on God, praying not only to God the Creator and Sustainer of Life, but to many different gods. It’s human nature to cry out when we’re hurting, we need help or are desperate.  God knows this. He also knows that when everything’s going well, it is our tendency to ignore him. He warned against it in Deut 8:11: “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the  Lord your God and disobey his commands, regulations, and decrees that I am giving you today.”

Prayer is not a “to do”. It’s not a thing or a place.  It’s you - relating with the Triune God, you - expressing your need, you - talking to your Creator.  If you have followed along for the past 21 days and have read to the bottom of each page and agreed with the prayer, you have been praying for 21 days, the start of a habit. The words written were heartfelt communication with God. Prayer is the communication of your relationship with God.  Prayer also involves listening to hear from God.  Below are some benefits of talking and listening to God.

• Talking to God relieves anxiety: Phil 4:6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

• Talking to God connects us with someone who will listen Jer 29:11,12: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen.” 

• Prayer is a secret connection  Matt 6:6 “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.”

• Praying helps us express ourselves Romans 8:26  ^“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.”

• Prayer gives confidence 1Jn 5:14,15  “And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.”

Father God, Thank you for these past 21 days, for giving us strength and desire to persevere. I pray you will bless each reader with a deeper understanding of how much you desire fellowship with your creation. Father, would you draw people to yourself through Jesus and his prayer life.