This is not an exhaustive or complete list — this is not a dissertation on prayer —but simply the four lessons that jumped to the front of the list for me. I pray you are encouraged, leading you to stop and seek the Lord in prayer.
1. Prayer is Some of the Hardest Work You’ll Ever Do
Prayer is hard for me sometimes. I am a person who needs structure, routine, and rhythm to make sure I do the most important things every day. I always aim to get up early enough that I have time to pray and read scripture before I do anything else. This sets the tone for my day, puts my focus of Christ and not on myself.
The initial feeling of prayer is dying to self, because praying is an act of the will, a decision to shut down your activity and open the door to God’s activity. -Paul E. Miller A Praying Church
Dying to self is hard work, and praying for others consistently is as well. It is no accident that the word “labor” is used when describing praying for those we love —praying for healing, praying for those in addiction, praying for a loved one’s salvation, praying for wisdom. It is hard work, but it is the most important work. God is all powerful, and he is good, so laboring to bring our prayers and intercessions to him is good work.
2. Prayer Keeps You Focused
The devil does not have to destroy a Christian leader; he only has to distract him. -Daniel Henderson Old Paths New Power
Praying first thing in the morning sets the tone for my day, but that cannot be the only time I seek the Lord. The more I pray consistently throughout my day, the more focused and productive I am. No one would argue with that idea that submitting to and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide us all day would lead to maximum effectiveness—so why do I seldom live this way? I am constantly distracted, often self-centered, and being bombarded with messages from the world—I need to stop and pray throughout the entire day to stay focused on the Kingdom of God.
3. God Teaches Us Through Prayer
All our libraries and studies are mere emptiness compared with our closets. The commentators are good instructors, but the Author himself is far better. -Charles Spurgeon Lectures To My Students
I read this quote recently from Spurgeon and was so convicted. I love to read, study the Bible, listen to sermons, and study theology—but there is no better way to know God more than to spend time with God. Again, we all know and agree with this statement, but why do we live a different way?
Be still, and know that I am God. -Psalm 46:10
God wants to be known, that is why he has revealed himself through creation, through scripture, and through his son Jesus—sit still, be quiet and allow him to teach you.
4. Pray as You Can
Like any habit you want to cultivate, the most important thing is to just start doing it. Prayer can be this way. What times can you set aside to pray? What do you like doing that you can incorporate prayer into? Remember, prayer can be simple, and it does not have to be long. The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 is a great place to start.
When it comes to prayer, God isn’t grading essays; he’s talking to children. -Tyler Staton Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools
Pray when you get up. Pray when you walk. Set an alarm to pray 1 minute, 3 times a day. Pray when you drive. Pray at lunch. Pray at dinner. Pray when someone shares a need. Pray when you’re tempted. Pray when you’re scared. Praise God when he answers prayer.
We must lay before Him what is in us, not what ought to be in us. -C.S. Lewis
Pray as you can.
Conclusion
Stop right now and pray.
This post was originally found on the website, “4 Lessons Learned” and can be found by clicking here …
https://www.4lessonsilearned.com/4-lessons-i-learned-about-prayer
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