When I found that the topic for the month was prayer, I seriously wondered if I should write about something else. I'm more of a prayer “worrier” than a prayer warrior and I know I have a long way to go with respect to consistency in prayer.
I've read some great books on prayer over the years – 'Prayer' by Timothy Keller and 'Fervent' by Priscilla Shirer come to mind. I’ve learnt a great deal about prayer, but where I sorely fall short is in the execution department. My quiet times are hardly ever quiet and getting uninterrupted time in a full house is a challenge.
Over the years, I've tried out various methods of praying and I've found a few that work for me. This is my attempt to document the approaches that I've settled on and return to again and again. My hope is that these suggestions might help another prayer warrior wannabe who’s beating herself up for not praying enough in busy seasons.
I came across the term 'flare prayer' when a popular Christian blogger used it to refer to the desperate one-liners we pray at times. I realised I had been doing the same for years.
Sometimes, it’s just a word… 'Jesus!'
And sometimes it’s more…
'Please, Lord. I need You'.
'I can't do this without You'.
These succinct prayers hardly take a few seconds, but the vulnerable cries of our heart convey the depth of our desperation for God to intervene.
When God gives us a promise or passage to hold on to, it helps to repeat the same in the form of a prayer. As part of our home-schooling, our boys do an intuitive Bible study every weekday morning where they journal a few verses and include a prayer based on the passage. Many days, I’m praying the same prayers along with them.
Praying God’s Word is also a great option when we’re stuck in a decision-making rut or don’t know what to pray about. We know that the Bible lays out God’s will for us and we can boldly proclaim it over our lives. It’s a great way to make our desires known to God but also submit and say, '…not my will but Yours be done'.
In the current season of life, this has become my go-to mode of prayer. I’ve learnt to turn my thoughts into prayers – especially the anxious ones. So, when I’m stirring something on the stove, washing dishes, or just taking a walk, I’ve turned off my podcasts and kept the background prayers going.
Some days I'll just pray out whatever thoughts are heavy on my mind. And sometimes, God nudges me and brings someone/something to remembrance that I spend time praying for.
In the past I've memorised short lists of specific people/points to pray over. Now I just note down the requests I've committed to pray for and pray over them during my quiet time. If you prefer the digital route, the YouVersion app has a great feature where you can enter your prayer requests and it will nudge you to pray over them.
When I’m overwhelmed with life and I just don't have the words, it helps to turn the focus from myself to God. When I praise God for who He is and thank Him for what He's done for me/my family, it helps me remember who really is sovereign over my life.
I love the Anne of Green Gables quote – 'God’s in His heaven, all's right with the world'. While all might not be right with my world or the world at large, at least in the moments I spend in prayer, I have the assurance that God hears me. He leans down to listen to my prayer, and I know He is able and willing to answer.
What is your go-to mode of prayer? What other suggestions would you add to this list?
Photo by Naassom Azevedo on Unsplash
Thank you Sheena for this post. Your suggestions are encouraging because they seem doable. The timing of your post couldn’t have been better for me. Saying an intentional prayer of praise makes so much sense especially when we’re overwhelmed with life.