Do you know that you’re called to zealous prayer life? For real. We are all called not just to pray once in awhile but to have zealous prayer life.

Prayer is a gift from God to us. Just think about having a direct prayer line to God Almighty! Pretty awesome!! We are called to be faithful in prayer and to pray without ceasing.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.(Romans 12:12, NIV)

God wants to participate in our lives. Through prayer it is possible. Through prayer we are able to connect with God in a very special way. Prayer is not supposed to be a monologue, we are invited to listen to what God has to say to us. We are invited to live with God. That’s what zealous prayer life looks like. With the words of Smith Wigglesworth “I never pray for more than half-an-hour. . . . [But] I never go longer than half-an-hour without praying.”

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. (Col.4:2, NIV)

Be certain that you don’t try to use God for your own purposes. God is not a tool we use to get things done our way. God knows what’s best for us. We are to approach God humbly with open hearts and minds. We are not to bring our own agenda on the table as an order for God to act upon. Yes, we are to bring our problems and concerns to God but not with ready-made solutions. We are to leave the solutions up to God. God is holy. God is God. And we are his beloved children.

Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.(James 5:13-14, NIV)

We are to pray fervently until burden is lifted or our prayer is answered. God really does answer prayers! Sometimes it just takes longer than we’d like. Sometimes answers are something else than we’d like. Sometimes we forget to look around for answers. But God does answer prayers. God cares about us. God is in action in our lives.

When you cry out your prayers you can be certain that God hears you. God hears you and is right with you. Even if you don’t feel it. You can count on the promises of the Bible: God is always by your side.

 

Gracious God,
Thank you for the gift of prayer.
Thank you for wanting to participate in our lives.
Guide is in our prayer life.
Teach us to pray without ceasing,
to listen to you, to desire your will.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How is your prayer life?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you press on in prayer.

Image courtesy of ochristian.com. This post is refurbished from 2010. Linking up today with Sharing His Beauty, Unforced Rhythms, Playdates with God.