“We’ll keep you in our prayers.” We say that to others from time to time when they are facing some kind of difficulty. But do we really remember to pray for them, and when we do, is it a meaningful prayer? If you’re like me, sometimes my prayers lack the attention and devotion they deserve. Prayer is intended to be a serious communication between us and our Heavenly Father.
In the Psalms we are told to “Be still and know that I am God.” Being still is hard for us to do; we have to keep moving, to be about our business (not His), hurrying to the next “important” item on our agenda, etc. We need to take some time to slow down, to be quiet, meeting with God in some place free from distractions. Then we can begin a conversation – both listening and talking. Most of us are much better at talking than we are at listening. But God wants to be heard, and I know from my own experience that He has something important to say to us if only we are willing to listen.
In our prayers to God, we need to acknowledge who He is, coming to Him in humility, confessing our shortcomings, expressing thanksgiving for all the things He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives, and presenting the needs (not wants) of others and then ourselves. We need to trust God to provide answers as the Bible promises He will do.
Take time to pray fervently and effectively. Make your prayers count.
“The effective fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” – James 5:16
