Perfect practice makes perfect…except with prayer.
Prayer is a skill that never has to be “perfect.” It can improve in comfort and consistency, but we never “arrive” in our prayers. I had the privilege this past weekend to pray alongside a beautiful grandmother. When we were done, she confessed to me that she had never prayed in front of anyone her whole life. Fear and shyness held her back all these years.
Maybe some of you can relate. We can all be intimidated by prayer. We gather our standards of what prayer should sound like from church, how our friends pray, even the words said by preachers on t.v. Let me set your mind at ease right now: You cannot impress God with your prayers, nor is He looking to be impressed.
When it comes to praying, practice is key, not perfection. Throw perfection out the window! God wants to hear from you just the way you are- your unique voice and phraseology, your humor and your serious side. The more you pray uniquely like yourself, the more comfortable you will become. The more comfortable you become, the less you will worry about the words you say. The more you pray, the easier it becomes!
For day six of #theFives, we embrace the comfort found in practicing prayer.
“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
What was that second verse? Pray continually. In the Greek, this word is translated “without intermission, incessantly, assiduously.” We are being instructed to pray without stopping. How is this possible? He is saying to have a posture of prayer all the time, no matter where you are or how you feel. Pray over and over. In all things, over all things, concerning all things. Practice, practice, practice…then repeat. To become proficient in prayer, you must practice.
Let’s pray:
1.) Take a moment to journal what intimidates you about prayer. Do you lack faith that God will answer your prayer? Maybe you are scared you will say the wrong words? Write all your thoughts down on paper. How can God help you overcome your reservations?
2.) #theFives is a frame work for practicing prayer. An hour in prayer is a fantastic start, but it doesn’t end there. Ask God how to keep practicing prayer long after 5am.
3.) Speak the truth of Psalm 66:20 over your heart: “Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” He loves your prayers and you! Your jumbled words and shaky prayers are music to His ears. Don’t quit- keep trying! It will become second-nature soon enough.
Want to know more about prayer? Check out Believe Boldly: The Power of Simple, Confident Prayer to Unleash the Supernatural. Order your copy here. Don’t forget to follow BB on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Wondering when the next BB event is? Check out our schedule! Psst- that includes our RETREAT!
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