Jan 21, 2022 Devoted To Prayer: Engaging Our Hearts – Words of Grace – January 21, 2022
Let’s be honest. We are not always devoted to prayer. Sometimes our hearts are just not engaged to pray.
The reasons for this are many. We are often confused about what is best to pray. We grow weary when we don’t see the answers to our prayers. We may wonder if prayer makes any difference in our lives or in the lives of others. Most often, we just don’t think to pray because we are so used to taking matters into our own hands.
Is there any way we can engage our hearts so we will remain devoted to prayer?
Of course, there are times when life is so hard that we just pray. We cry out in pain, confusion, or from a state of depression. In those times, no one needs to teach us to pray, nor do we need to think much about prayer. Prayer erupts from the heart in the form of a request for help.
And there are times when we spontaneously give praise to God and thank him for his blessings. This doesn’t take much discipline on our part. We are just moved by an experience of God’s goodness.
But what about those times when it is simply time to pray? What about our quiet time, or a small group prayer meeting, or congregational prayer on Sunday? If we find ourselves less than motivated to pray in these routine times, there are some things we can do to engage our hearts.
Consider how the ability to pray was secured for you by Christ when he died on the cross. Your sin separated you from God. Jesus removed your sin through his death in your place. When he did, he opened the door into the presence of God for you to walk through by faith. Let the death of Christ move you to pray.
Come to prayer with the assurance that your heavenly Father knows and loves you, and that he responds to your prayers. If God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers of the field, how much more will he care for you! Pray from your heart to the Father who carries you in his.
Remember that you are not alone in your prayers. The Holy Spirit is praying with you and for you. He does this because he knows that you are weak. Don’t let not knowing what to pray for keep you from praying. Offer up the best prayer you have and then rest in knowing that you are being helped by the Holy Spirit, who is praying for you.
Meditate on one promise of God in the Bible and turn it into a prayer. Be assured that if God promised to do something, then praying for it will certainly bring results.
Think of the things that would most glorify God and then ask him to make them happen through you and our church. Go big with your prayers. There is something about praying for God’s glory that engages our hearts.
January is Devoted To Prayer month. Let’s pray.
-Scott