What I have learned about prayer so far:
- Persistent prayer is powerful prayer. Sometimes it takes years and years of prayer before we see anything change. I know of a couple who has prayed for a man for 10 straight years.
- In prayer, we should not always expect the answer to be yes. Just because you pray for something a long time, does not guarantee it will happen. Sometimes the answer is yes, sometimes it is no.
- God really does know best. He sees the bigger picture that we can’t see. Whether we understand His answers or not, we must learn how to trust Him. This is hard. It takes time and practice. But it’s not impossible.
- You don’t have to pray long, impressive prayers. God cares more about the attitude of your heart than the perfection of your words.
- You’re seeking His will in prayer, not your own. When the desires of your heart conform to the desires of His, then you can apply Psalm 37:4. Many take this Psalm out of context, but it is not about getting whatever you want.
- Be honest with God about your desires, but always prepare to submit to His will. The more you know Him, the better you will understand His will.
- Pray with respect. You’re talking to your Heavenly Father who loves you, but you’re also talking to God Almighty. He is worthy of reverence.
- Take time in between asking for things to thank God for His blessings in your life. We don’t do this enough.
- The enemy does not want you to pray. I repeat, he does not want you to pray. He will try to prevent you from praying. He knows what it’s capable of. When you feel distractions or interruptions, pray all the harder.
- Even when you’ve been praying for ages, even when you’re exhausted, even when the case seems hopeless, even when you’re most tempted to, never never never give up. Settle it in your heart to pray for the rest of your life if necessary. When it comes to effective prayer, persistence is key.
- It’s okay if not every prayer is formal. You can talk to God about your day. You can cry to Him. You can lean on Him when you’re hurting or laugh with Him when you’re happy. He’s your Best Friend who loves you dearly.
- God cares about the things we think are unimportant.
- Pray for people’s salvation. Start praying for people’s souls and refuse to give up for the rest of your life. If there’s anything you should pray relentlessly for, it’s people’s salvation. While they’re breathing, they can be saved. Don’t. Give. Up.
- Having a “prayer time” during the day can help. I usually have the most energy at night, so I pray the most then. Of course you can do this during any time of the day.
- Don’t let shame hold you back from prayer - that’s the enemy working. If you feel shame, talk to God about what you feel. He still loves you even if you stumbled into sin again.
- Just like Jesus taught, get alone with God when you pray. Prayer is not about “putting on a show”, it’s about conversing with the Almighty. Remember the words of Christ: “when you pray, enter into your room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret” (Matthew 6:6).
- Talk to God at school. Talk to Him when you eat breakfast, on walks, at work, at 3 AM, at the gym, anywhere. It doesn’t bother Him one bit. It’s okay to have an endless dialogue going with God throughout your day. It’s a good way to deepen your friendship with Him.
- Prayer is not only a “Christian responsibility”. It’s a way to draw near to the One who loves us most in the universe. It’s a way to build on our most precious relationship. It’s a lifeline for the lost and hurting. A way to plead for the unsaved and bless the broken. Speaking from very real experience, prayer is powerful. It changes lives. It changes hearts. And it changes us.