Alone in your room, overwhelmed and devastated by the events of the day. Feeling like the ground beneath you is suddenly shaking, like you’re no longer standing on firm ground but shifting sand. What is your typical reaction? Call your friends and ask for advice or use them as a sounding board for your frustrations and fears? Get on the internet and start Google searching for answers? Become immobilized by the weight of the worry?
What if instead you got on your knees and prayed?
Call out to God and share your heart with Him. Tell Him your fears, your anger, your frustrations. Ask Him for advice and guidance, for answers and direction. Begin with prayer, inviting God into your conversation and allowing Him to speak to your heart.
Prayer is our constant conversation with God
Peter and the early church did this when they ran into resistance and trouble. We see time and again throughout Acts how they went immediately to prayer when in need. From the moment Jesus returned to heaven and left them on their own, they were “constantly in prayer”.
[callout]They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14 NIV)[/callout]
Constantly in prayer. Does that describe your prayer life? I know it doesn’t describe mine, even though I try. Yet, when I do invite God into my conversations, into my decisions, into my fears, He always comes through with love, support, and guidance.
Prayer is powerful enough to propel you through any trial
In Acts 4, the church was praising God for Peter’s release from his first arrest, praying for strength to carry on in the face of grave adversity. Look how God let them know He was listening and how He supported and encouraged them.
[callout]When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:24; 31 NIV)[/callout]
So maybe the ground won’t shake and you won’t stand up and start preaching the word of God after your prayer, but if God could do those things for them, think what He can do for you.
Pray first and let God have your worry
Instead of worrying, crying, panicking over your situation, get on your knees and pray. Open your heart to God. Share your thoughts, your fears, your anger. Get gut-honest with Him about the situation.
Then, stop talking and listen. Sit in silence with God and listen. Maybe you won’t hear Him right away, but keep listening each day as you pray. Give God a chance to respond. Maybe He’ll respond during your prayer time or maybe He’ll respond in other ways, but keep your eyes open for God at work around you.
Prayer is one of the most essential tools we need to use when going through a storm or a life change.
Prepare before the next storm comes:
- Develop a habit of prayer
- Learn different ways to pray and find what and when works for you
- Learn to ask for prayer; practice asking for prayer for your needs in group prayer requests
- Learn to pray with someone; ask someone to pray with you
Rely on your preparation when the storm hits:
- From the moment the storm hits, start praying
- Pray alone, ask for prayers from friends and your community, ask someone to pray one-on-one with you
- Sit in silence with God, listening for His response and feeling His comforting arms around you
- Keep your eyes open for God at work around you, leaving you signs that He’s near; bringing people into your path who can help, nudging you with guidance, filling you with comfort and support
Dig deeper when the storm subsides:
- Give thanks to God for helping you through the storm
- Keep praying and develop an even deeper relationship with God
- Pray for others and encourage them to lean into prayer through their storms
Today, take hope in this song, “Pray” by Sanctus Real
So I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it’s just to speak Your name
I’m gonna pray
[youtube id=”a_J4I4gsvYA” height=”353″ width=”574″ marginbottom=”15″]
[callout]This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview[/callout]
Sharing with: Make a Difference Mondays, Monday Musings, Testimony Tuesday, UNITE
For Hope in the Storm: Power of Prayer – Prayer & Possibilities
Alone in your room, overwhelmed and devastated by the events of the day. Feeling like the ground beneath you is suddenly shaking, like you’re no longer standing on firm ground but shifting sand. What is your typical reaction? Call your friends and ask for advice or use them as a sounding board for your frustrations and fears? Get on the internet and start Google searching for answers? Become immobilized by the weight of the worry?
What if instead you got on your knees and prayed?
Call out to God and share your heart with Him. Tell Him your fears, your anger, your frustrations. Ask Him for advice and guidance, for answers and direction. Begin with prayer, inviting God into your conversation and allowing Him to speak to your heart.
Prayer is our constant conversation with God
Peter and the early church did this when they ran into resistance and trouble. We see time and again throughout Acts how they went immediately to prayer when in need. From the moment Jesus returned to heaven and left them on their own, they were “constantly in prayer”.
[callout]They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. (Acts 1:14 NIV)[/callout]
Constantly in prayer. Does that describe your prayer life? I know it doesn’t describe mine, even though I try. Yet, when I do invite God into my conversations, into my decisions, into my fears, He always comes through with love, support, and guidance.
Prayer is powerful enough to propel you through any trial
In Acts 4, the church was praising God for Peter’s release from his first arrest, praying for strength to carry on in the face of grave adversity. Look how God let them know He was listening and how He supported and encouraged them.
[callout]When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. (Acts 4:24; 31 NIV)[/callout]
So maybe the ground won’t shake and you won’t stand up and start preaching the word of God after your prayer, but if God could do those things for them, think what He can do for you.
Pray first and let God have your worry
Instead of worrying, crying, panicking over your situation, get on your knees and pray. Open your heart to God. Share your thoughts, your fears, your anger. Get gut-honest with Him about the situation.
Then, stop talking and listen. Sit in silence with God and listen. Maybe you won’t hear Him right away, but keep listening each day as you pray. Give God a chance to respond. Maybe He’ll respond during your prayer time or maybe He’ll respond in other ways, but keep your eyes open for God at work around you.
Prayer is one of the most essential tools we need to use when going through a storm or a life change.
Prepare before the next storm comes:
Rely on your preparation when the storm hits:
Dig deeper when the storm subsides:
Today, take hope in this song, “Pray” by Sanctus Real
So I pray
God I need You more than words can say
Right here in this moment
You know my heart, You know my need
You know every part of me
So even if it’s just to speak Your name
I’m gonna pray
[youtube id=”a_J4I4gsvYA” height=”353″ width=”574″ marginbottom=”15″]
[callout]This post is part of the “A Better Change” series. For more information on this series and to find related posts, click here: A Better Change Series – Overview[/callout]
Sharing with: Make a Difference Mondays, Monday Musings, Testimony Tuesday, UNITE