January 9 | Get a Life, a Prayer Life

Series | The God Kind of Life

Scripture | 1 Thessalonians 5:17, "pray continually..."

Lesson 9 | Get a Life, a Prayer Life

Have you ever been around other Christians and were asked to pray and felt embarrassed because you didn’t feel your prayers were as good as everybody else’s? If so, I’ve got great news for you today- every Christian’s prayers are meaningful and special to God.  Therefore, never let prayer be an opportunity for the devil to embarrass you.  Your prayers are a great source of blessing to yourself and those around you.

At the same time we as Christians should always be in a place of spiritual growth and development.  I should know more about God today then when I first received salvation.  Thus, just like when I first got married I didn’t know my wife as well as I do today because after eight years we’ve grown so much closer to each other.  The same is true with God and prayer.  The more time you spend in prayer with God, the more you learn about His heart and attributes.

Therefore, try not to look at prayer as a “thing you do,” but rather “a way you live.”  Make prayer your lifestyle by thinking and meditating on God whenever you can and as often as you can.  For example, when you’re on the job and asked to do an important assignment, pray to God in your heart, “God, I ask you to give me the wisdom and strength I need to succeed at this task.”  It’s that simple!

Some of the monks and medieval priests used to teach that Christians should recite certain prayers at specific times of the day to please God and be in a “continual” place of fellowship with Him.  However, this was the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, Matthew 6:7. 

He said we weren’t to pray religious prayers over and over again but rather address God as our Father and make our needs known to him as well as praying for His Kingdom to come to this earth.  Therefore, make an effort in your everyday life to stay in continual fellowship with God through the simple act of prayer!      

Reflection | How’s your prayer life?

Action | (1) Repent of the fear of man if you’ve been afraid to pray in public.  (2) Ask God to give you boldness and the words to speak when called upon to pray. (3) Lastly, make a direct effort today to stay in continual fellowship with God throughout the day with private prayer.   

One Year Reading Plan (Optional) | Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, &Proverbs 2:16-22. Click here to read online.