ELEVATE YOUR PRAYER LIFE
Have you ever stood at a crossroads, burdened by the weight of your ambitions? As I navigated the demanding paths of law school and prepared for my career as an attorney, I poured countless hours and resources into my education. I was dedicated to my future, but amid all this effort, I found myself grappling with a growing emptiness in my spiritual life.
It wasn’t until I hit a wall (failing the bar exam five times), feeling overwhelmed by stress and uncertainty, that I realized the crucial piece I was missing: nurturing my prayer life. Just as I had invested in my studies and professional growth, I needed to devote time to my spiritual well-being. When I finally embraced prayer as a vital part of my daily routine, I discovered a profound source of strength and clarity that transformed not just my spiritual journey but also my entire approach to life’s challenges.
A strong prayer life provides a foundation of strength, clarity, and purpose, enriching every other aspect of our lives. Through prayer, we find guidance, resilience, and peace, enabling us to navigate challenges and deepen our connections with ourselves and others.
Take a moment to reflect on your current prayer life. Are you experiencing the closeness to God that you desire? Are you seeing signs of answered prayers, miracles, or a growing sense of peace? Or perhaps you find that prayer has become routine, lacking the depth and intimacy you long for. Maybe consistency and focus in prayer have been challenging, or it’s been difficult to even get started. Recognizing where you are is the first step toward building the prayer life you truly want—one filled with connection, growth, and answered prayers. Let’s work on building that prayer life together, starting with some practical steps.
The Example of Jesus’ Prayer Life
Jesus treated prayer as a lifeline, not a ritual—prayer was central to His life and mission. When His disciples saw the depth and power of His prayer life, they wanted to experience that same connection and asked Him to teach them. Through this, Jesus showed us that prayer isn’t just about speaking to God; it’s about learning, growing, and connecting with His purpose for us. Inspired by Jesus’ example, we too can approach prayer with purpose, expecting both to grow in our faith and to find the guidance we need in daily life. Let’s look at a few practical ways to start building that kind of prayer life.
“Now when Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, ‘Lord, teach us to pray.’ And he said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done; On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from the evil." Luke 11:1-4(KJV)
From this passage, we can draw a few essential lessons:
1. Ask the Lord to Teach You How to Pray
Prayer is more than just a conversation with God; it’s an opportunity to learn about Him, ourselves, and our circumstances. The disciples recognized the vitality of Jesus’ prayer life and sought His guidance. When we invest in our prayer life, we should anticipate growth and learning.
In my personal prayer life, I have sought the Lord to teach me how to pray. God sent me people that would literally sit and pray with me and for me it. God sent me books and literature to on prayer. God allowed situations that helped me to stay praying.
In our individual prayer time, we can discern God’s will for our lives. As Christians navigating the marketplace, understanding His will is a key and a secret weapon. Our personal prayer time reveals more about our hearts and equips us with the wisdom needed to face our challenges. Remember, wisdom is the principal thing!
2. The Power of the Lord’s Prayer
Jesus’ response to the disciples’ request was the Lord’s Prayer, a powerful template for our prayers. During my prayer journey, I came across a remarkable book by Catherine Ponder titled The Prospering Power of Prayer. In it, she highlights the power of the Lord’s Prayer, stating that the ancients believed it to be immensely powerful, often reciting it multiple times without pause.
Intrigued, I decided to try it myself, repeating the Lord’s Prayer fifteen times in a row. While this wasn’t something I did daily, it became a powerful prayer practice that deepened my focus in praise, thanksgiving, dedication, and intercession. Repeating the Lord’s Prayer, both verbally and silently, brought me to a profound spiritual connection that went far beyond simple recital. To this day, I’ve continued this pattern by saying the Lord’s Prayer at least twice daily. Through this, I’ve witnessed transformation in unexpected areas—from difficult encounters with judges to challenging business situations. Prayer truly has the power to work wonders.
3. Practical Steps to Build Your Prayer Life
If you’re looking to enhance your prayer life and experience answered prayers, consider implementing these practical steps today:
- Set Aside Time to Pray Daily: Make it a priority in your schedule.
For example, you might commit to praying every morning at 7:00 AM before starting your day.
- Use a Prayer Journal: Write down your prayers and the dates when they’re answered.
Any journal will do, but I’ve included a link of a wonderful journal. This helps you track God’s faithfulness and reflect on your spiritual growth, knowing your prayers are not in vain but are reaching God.
- Pray with Purpose: Focus on four key elements— Adoration (praise), Confession (repentance), Thanksgiving (gratitude), and Supplication (requests).
- Join a Prayer Group: Chrishauna the Ministry will embark on this journey with you.
We are starting a series called Prayer Life to help support and strengthen your personal prayer journey. Starting now with the sample prayer below and continuing weekly, stay connected for the announcement on when the series will officially begin.
Let’s Pray:
Heavenly Father, I come to You today, desiring to deepen my relationship with You through prayer. Help me to see prayer not as an obligation, but as an opportunity to grow closer to You, to learn more about Your will for my life, and to gain wisdom in the situations I face. Teach me to pray with faith, knowing that You hear me and that You care for me. Give me the discipline to invest time in prayer, just as I invest in other parts of my life. I ask for Your guidance, strength, and peace as I build this vital connection with You. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Just as we invest in our careers and personal relationships, let’s remember that our spiritual growth deserves the same dedication. Our careers and personal relationships cannot fully evolve into their true purpose or thrive without involving our Creator through prayer. I encourage you to take action today. Start small, be consistent, and watch how your investment in prayer transforms your life. Let’s cultivate this vital connection together, expecting the beautiful results that follow.
May your prayer life flourish and lead you to a deeper understanding of God’s will and a richer experience in every area of your life.
Please comment and let me know how you elevated your prayer life today!