Beautiful morning Gems!
We are starting out with week two of the 40 Day Prayer Challenge and I am excited! Last week we focused on what prayer was, its purpose and the necessity of it. This week we are looking at the "why" of prayer.
Why we need to pray is probably a question many people pondered. I know that I have. As a kid, I didn't understand the importance of prayer and as a teen I didn't care enough to really pray. However, when I became a young adult -- my early 20's -- I started to get an understanding why we pray.
We pray because it's commanded of us to do so. God called us to pray. It's honestly as simple as that. However, we being human, make it complicated.
All throughout scripture you can find places in which God or Christ commanded people to pray according to their circumstances. I mean you can even read a few of them yourself:
Journaling Prompt
Please be as true to yourself as possible when answering the prompt to get the most out of this challenge.
Today's scripture comes from Colossians 4:2:
Spend 2-5 minutes journaling your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Verbal Prayer
Take 2 minutes and verbally speak your written prayer. Pray out loud so that He can hear your voice. If your prayer is short, try to add to it. If you still don't truly understand why we are to pray, ask God for a better understanding.
Listen
Sit quietly in a position that will not make you tired and wait on God. You may feel His presence, you may hear from Him. If you do, write down what He says or what you're feeling. Give yourself at least two minutes of pure silence to be able to hear from and feel God. This is a conversation, not a rant. Allow Him the opportunity to speak to you after you've spoken to Him.
Let's end in prayer...
Blessings,We are starting out with week two of the 40 Day Prayer Challenge and I am excited! Last week we focused on what prayer was, its purpose and the necessity of it. This week we are looking at the "why" of prayer.
We pray because it's commanded of us to do so. God called us to pray. It's honestly as simple as that. However, we being human, make it complicated.
All throughout scripture you can find places in which God or Christ commanded people to pray according to their circumstances. I mean you can even read a few of them yourself:
- Matthew 6:5
- Romans 12:12
- Ephesians 6:18
- Philippians 4:6
- 1 Thessalonians 5:17
- 1 Timothy 2:1
I mean, honestly, the list can go on for miles. God knew that we needed to pray. He also wanted us to speak with Him freely about our concerns, problems and dreams.
Though He commanded us to pray, it's more like a privilege to do so and to do it freely.
I am glad that He commanded us to pray. Though I didn't get the why as a kid or even so much in my college days, I'm grateful that I get the "why" to pray.
Why do we pray? Because He commanded it of us.
Please be as true to yourself as possible when answering the prompt to get the most out of this challenge.
Why do you find that you pray? Is it to check off a box on your to-do list? Is it a habit you picked up as a kid? Do you pray because God commanded it of you?Scripture
Today's scripture comes from Colossians 4:2:
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.Prayer Journaling
Spend 2-5 minutes journaling your thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Verbal Prayer
Take 2 minutes and verbally speak your written prayer. Pray out loud so that He can hear your voice. If your prayer is short, try to add to it. If you still don't truly understand why we are to pray, ask God for a better understanding.
Listen
Sit quietly in a position that will not make you tired and wait on God. You may feel His presence, you may hear from Him. If you do, write down what He says or what you're feeling. Give yourself at least two minutes of pure silence to be able to hear from and feel God. This is a conversation, not a rant. Allow Him the opportunity to speak to you after you've spoken to Him.
Let's end in prayer...
Heavenly Father,
We are grateful this morning for Your love, grace and mercy. We honor You in all of Your splendor. We give all praise to You this morning for waking us up and allowing us to be among the living. Father, we thank You for Your command to pray. We may not always understand why we need to pray, but You knew that we would need it. You knew that prayer would be our means of communicating with you. Today, we don't look at prayer as a command. We no longer see it as a to-do or a habit we gained over the years. No. We see prayer as a privilege. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
We are grateful this morning for Your love, grace and mercy. We honor You in all of Your splendor. We give all praise to You this morning for waking us up and allowing us to be among the living. Father, we thank You for Your command to pray. We may not always understand why we need to pray, but You knew that we would need it. You knew that prayer would be our means of communicating with you. Today, we don't look at prayer as a command. We no longer see it as a to-do or a habit we gained over the years. No. We see prayer as a privilege. This we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.
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