Five
Pray Expecting Answers
LUKE 18:1
And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
We should make it a habit to pray as often as possible. The most important time to pray is when we don’t feel like doing so. When we feel like our lives are perfect and nothing needs to change, or even when we feel as if God forever abandoned us and left us to suffer with our own issues, we must continue growing our prayer life, and communicating with God more. Talk to Him about your issues, or thank Him for the goodness in your life and ask Him to use the blessings to help others.
Even during the day, just remind yourself God is with you and whisper a small prayer. Just thinking of God will make you put your best foot forward during the day’s often tiring, hectic schedule. Don’t think you are sinning just because you are praying throughout the day during work or at the grocery store, where you may not be alone and on your knees. God doesn’t keep score; all He wants to see is you thinking about Him and recognizing His presence.
Today, there are a lot of misconceptions about Christianity. Too often do people assume living a Christian life centers around endless sets of rules, strict limitations, and an overall boring life. Nothing could be further from the truth. Corinthians 5:7 tells us to walk by faith and not by sight. This means regardless of what everyone else is doing, we should strive to do what God wants us to do, and be confident that our faith will pay off.
When we understand the power of praying with a faithful heart, we can truly unlock the door to God’s limitless power that He implants in each and every one of our hearts. God is not all about rules. He picked you to be here. To be alive. To spend eternity with Him. He just asks for your belief and faith. How could we resist? God is still alive, here with us, in your heart, and He is holding your hand, and all things truly are possible when we trust in Him, for He created the Heavens and Earth—why should we ever question His abilities? God will give you the faith you need; He never leaves us unprepared or unequipped. He gives us just the right amount of everything we need to be victorious in our battles.
Don’t underestimate the power of obedience, though. Don’t forget the power of just obeying God’s Word, and how much He really does reward you for following Him consistently. If you accept Him as your Lord and Savior but continue giving into the same temptations, committing the same sins, and don’t strive to grow in faith, it won’t do much good for you. But, if you obey His commandments and continue walking in faith, He will amaze you by opening doors for you and taking you light years ahead of where you thought you could go. He sees the potential within you. Just stay in faith and expect Him to give you more than what you asked for.
It is important to connect with God first thing every morning as well. Praying in the morning allows for us to refocus our attention on Jesus before we receive all the day offers us, and reminds us we have His power to get through each event of the day’s course. Psalm 90:14 says God will satisfy us in the morning with His unfailing love, “That we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Even a quick conversation with God before getting dressed or ready for work will shift your whole mindset closer to God, offering you comfort for the whole day. Make the effort and pray each morning:
Lord Jesus Christ,
Thank You for the gift of life and another day. When You came to earth for Your children, You grew as a child in grace, peace, and wisdom. Receive me as You received children in Your arms as Lord, and this day hear my prayers, bless my parents, loved ones, family, teachers, and all caregivers of mine, and let them see You when they see me, hear You when they hear me, and touch You when they touch me. Make me more like You Lord Jesus.
Bless me and protect me from danger and evil seen and unseen. Work Your miracles within me and do Your work inside of my heart. Give me strength to be truthful, honest, kind, and helpful to others. Make me strong like You, and help me avoid temptations the world may throw at me. Make me a giver and not a taker. Forgive my sins and accept my prayer in great mercy, for I seek refuge in You, the merciful and almighty God. Shine Your heart upon me and teach me Your ways this day, that I may bring honor, credit, glory, and all things good to Your name. Guide me, God, to grow in Your peace and grace, and make me a temple of The Holy Spirit with everything I do. Use all that I have for Your glory and honor today, and Father, today I give to You all my praise and all the glory for whatever success comes my way Father, You’ve created this day for me, and I thank You as my first thoughts.
Please grant me discernment to Your voice and patience in Your perfect timing when obstacles arise today. Keep my heart opening and pouring out to You, as You seal me in a sealed envelope of protection against all danger and evil. Please keep me eyes above the waves and humble me before You, for I exalt You above anything and everything today and forevermore. You, preserver of my life, endure forever Lord, and I ask that You keep my mind focused on Your limitless power, protection, and promises You left and made for us in Your word. Father, You are my strength this day and everything I have belongs to You. I thank You for allowing me to rejoice in You, for this is the day You have made. I give thanks to You, Lord, for You are good and Your steadfast love endures forever!
Having this day as a gift from You Lord, I thank You, Holy Trinity, for Your patience and goodness towards me. You were not wrathful with me, and idler, and impure sinner. But instead, You have continuously shown love towards me, guiding my heart to You and using my efforts for Your glory. Please enlighten my soul to meditate on Your word and understand it by opening my heart to You. Help me apply everything I learn and to praise and glorify You with all my energy, time, soul, and heart. To You I give the glory, honor, and praise. Help me remain strong in faith and spirit, especially when my flesh fails. Remind me that all my challenges and obstacles result in glorifying You for the victory. Reveal Yourself to me in an incredible way today, and show me Your favor. Father, use this day and all that it contains to remind me of Your glory, peace, and all your perfection. Keep my head above the waters and transform me, change me, and morph me into the Christian revived by the blood of Christ You designed me to be.
Remind me I’m not longer under the curse of the Old Testament, and by Your sacrifice, I’m forever changed and saved. Also, help me reach true understanding of how far You’ve gotten me, how much I’ve progressed, and how the best is only yet to come. Bless me with Your tender touch, and I will be saved. You made the ultimate sacrifice for me, and I ask for You to take my life as a living sacrifice, and I permit You complete entrance into my heart. Forgive my sins and all the mistakes of my past life, and rid me of my memory of my mistakes and sins—now I live in Christ. Wake up my spiritual senses and anoint me, Father, in Your righteousness. Allow me to walk in Your hand across this path of Life and uprightness. Fill every cell in my being with Your Light, healing, and all Your limitless, endless power. Bring my focus to You, and today line up explosive blessings and hidden treasure for me to use to glorify Your Holy Name. Thank You for this day Lord! In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen, Amen, and Amen!
Likewise, praying before bed is important, too. As the day comes to a close, we should be glad to thank God for all He did for us. For giving us the strength for that day. For blessing us and blowing the winds of favor our way. For life. For breath in our lungs. For letting us know Him. There are so many things to thank God for that we take advantage of. Psalm 3:5 says, “I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the Lord sustains me.” That’s exactly what He will do: sustain you. He won’t only do that, but also reenergize you for the next day and bring you closer to your destiny. God makes all of our days exactly how they should be—meaning every blessing and obstacle alike is in your life for a purpose. But when we submit our hearts and problems to God, we can sleep with peace knowing He will take care of it. At the end of each day thank God for what He has done and what He is doing. Pray for Him to bring answers and joy in the morning. Each night, strive to pray for your needs and thank Him:
Father,
Thank You for the amazing blessings and happiness You gave to me today, and all the great opportunities to do Your work and help others. As my strength and energy fades, replenish me of everything I need for tomorrow, and protect me as I sleep a deep, restful sleep. Thank You for a roof over my head and a bed to sleep in. Thank You for my family, and let tomorrow bring explosive blessings right towards me.
Lord, thank You for this evening, as I rest in Your presence. Wash away my fears, anxieties, and all polluted thoughts of today, and all doubts forming from the overload of work that I just don’t see how it will get done. Assure me of Your excellence this night, and let me praise You even in my sleep.
Lord Jesus, You gave me this night, and You overcame all the battles of the day for me. You are the reason for my success, excellence, and all accomplishments. Now I give the glory for all of it to You, for none of it was done by me but only by You, my Savior. Please guide me through this night and shine Your Heavenly Light upon my heart, placing me into a peaceful spirit. Lead me to Your grace, and help me understand more about You as I sleep this night. Lift me eyelids in the morning with singing angels and Your Light already blessing the course of the day.
Father, the burdens and pressures of the world have taken their toll on me. Please reverse the damage done to me and refocus my attention on the unseen but very visible Kingdom of Heaven, where no pressures or weight exists. Bring me a Heavenly peace and lightness to my movement, that I may go about the next listening to the stillness of Your voice and serving You, not the world.
Despite the world’s temptations, I forget not Your laws and promises. This night, like all others, I rise to praise You and glorify Your Holy Name because of Your humility, explosive miracles, help, righteousness, and unchanging love You hold for me and my loved ones, despite our sins. How sweet is Your word, Lord! Allow me to place myself wholeheartedly in Your endless, limitless power and strength for all the days and nights ahead. Use me to speak truth and not bring shame but bring honor and glory to Your Name, Jesus! Clean me to become whiter than snow, and turn Your face away from my sins. Renew a clean, right spirit within me as Your Word promises.
Please grant us rest of every cell inside us; and keep us from dark sleep of sin and away from all impure pleasures and fantasies roaming in the night’s darkness. Still the assaults of evil passions, quench the fiery darts are aimed against us, and give to us watchful minds and spirits free from all dark thoughts.
Nothing is impossible for You, blessed One who I exalt. Humble me before You and Your throne room, and allow all my works to exalt You in some form. Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, take away our sins of the fallen world and extend Your mercy towards our way, and accept our prayers, Lord, enthroned at the right hand of the Father, and I shall use this life You’ve gifted me with for all Your endless glory.
You received all the children who came to You, Father. Please accept me also as Your child and servant in need of a Savior and salvation. Give me understanding of my weakness, granting me humble humility, and wake up anew as You move into my heart, filling my soul with Heavenly strength.
You are my Shepard and Your love has clothed me since my birth—when You loved me before I even knew You. Please, Lord, I ask for Your grace and Spirit to fill the voids in my life and heart, and guide me to fulfillment in You through prayer and supplication, sacrifice and dedication to You and Your Word. You laid it all down for me to live, Father, please guide me to make the most of this blessed gift of a life, and do Your work every step of the way.
Lord, teach me that obstacles are blessings and opportunities to grow in faith and trust You more. Grant me Your continual gift of peace, and allow it to flow from Your Heavenly throne to the deepest depths of my soul. Teach me to stop complaining, and embrace whatever challenges try to take me down. With all my stress and the chaos of this fallen world I ask for Your grace to pick me up and lift my eyes to You—the One who holds everything and everyone in Your peace.
Lord, as my restless heart prevents me from living this night in peace please remind me of Your favor, grace, and Light, that shines from Your Kingdom down to the deepest place of my heart, and out into everything I do. Take my focus off of worldly pleasures and problems, and train me to think of Heavenly, bold prayers and solutions to problems in my life so I can truly become the victor and no longer live as the victim of the world. Amen.
Faith Reminder
Make it a priority to pray as often as possibly. Wake up and ask God for a blessed day, and at night, thank Him for revealing Himself to you more through the day. Meditate on God and His Word day and night and get to know Him more than ever before.