Rediscovering Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer

The Bookery
May 20
4 min read

Prayer isn’t just something you do; it’s a way of life.

two women at a table with a Bible and a cup of coffee

Prayer isn’t just something you do; it’s a way of life.

If you’ve ever had someone you’d call a “prayer warrior” in your life, you know that statement is true. For Christians who have come to embody that term, prayer isn’t just something they check off their to-do list every day. Prayer is a lifeline, a response to fear, trouble or aggravation. It’s the pattern that shapes their existence.

When everything is going wrong, they pray.

When everything is going right, they pray.

When they don’t know what to do, what the right answer is or the next step to take, they pray.

Prayer has become one of the defining characteristics of their life, but they probably didn’t start that way. Before prayer became a lifeline, it was probably a discipline.

If you’re anything like us, you’d probably admit that you struggle with prayer. Not what to say really, but how to make it a focus, a first response in times of trouble, grief and even joy. You want prayer to be a lifeline or a pattern that shapes your life rather than something you check off the to-do list before you go about your day each morning. The answer? Like any skill you want to develop, becoming a prayer warrior begins with, well, praying.

Why Should I Pray?

Prayer allows you to communicate with God and helps align your will with his.
Prayer is a way to seek wisdom and guidance while expressing your dependence on God.
Prayer is a chance to confess sin and seek forgiveness.
Prayer is a chance to thank God and lift up others.

Prayer Allows You to Communicate with God and Helps Align Your Will with His.

Think about the most important relationships in your life, the ones characterized by trust, intimacy and respect. Would you have that type of relationship if you never talked to or spent time with that person? No, you wouldn’t. Strong relationships are built on good communication, and the same is true for our relationship with God. Prayer is a way to communicate with him—to reflect on his Word and what you’re learning, to cry out when you’re scared, hurt or confused, to share your dreams and desires. If you want to grow in relationship with God, you have to pray because it allows you to communicate with him and helps align your will to his.

Prayer Allows You to Seek Guidance and Wisdom and Express Your Dependence Upon God.

Sometimes, the most honest prayer is the one that comes out as a breath: God, I don’t know what to do. God, help me make the right decision. Help me trust you. God, help my unbelief! Prayer is direct access to God, and through prayer, we can seek his guidance and wisdom in the most difficult or mundane situations of our lives. And when we do so, it’s an act of faith that acknowledges our deep need for and dependence on God.

Prayer Is a Chance to Confess Sin and Seek Forgiveness.

In Psalm 51, David cried out to God for forgiveness. If it’s been awhile, read over that psalm again today and notice the things David asked God to do. Have mercy. Cleanse me. Create in me a pure heart. Restore the joy of my salvation. The list could go on, but the message is clear. David understood that prayer is a chance to confess sin and seek forgiveness. Sin damages our relationship with God, but confession is the first step back toward a right relationship with him.

Prayer Is a Way to Say Thank You and Lift Up Others.

Gratitude journals are great but for gratitude to mean anything, it has to be expressed toward something or someone. Prayer is a way to thank God for his goodness, mercy and blessings in your life. It’s a way to express your gratitude for the beautiful things all around you, the way he has sustained you in a hard season and the gift of his Word. But prayer is also a chance to intercede for others, to lift up the needs and concerns of those nearest and dearest to you to the Creator of the universe. Don’t miss the opportunity to stretch your faith by asking God to work in the lives of others—for healing, strength, salvation and more—as an act of love and service.

Resources About Prayer

Looking for resources about the value and importance of prayer? Seeking to practice this spiritual discipline in your own life? A few tools to consider include: