What's Private Prayer All About?
by Mary Turfe
Ever wonder what private prayer really is? Why people do it? What does it require? Do answers to prayer really come?
Prayer is a way for you and me to communicate with God. It's a one-on-one spiritual conversation with Him. No need to be highly educated or an expert on the Bible. And our prayer doesn't have to be formal or sound like someone else's prayers. We can pray openly, from our heart, as we would share with a good friend.
Why do people pray? Coming closer to God through prayer, we can find comfort when we experience grief, feel overwhelmed, or are discouraged. We might pray to seek God's help or protection when facing challenging or frightening circumstances. All of us make mistakes and commit sins. Learning from these situations and seeking God's forgiveness are part of His plan for us. When we offer prayers of forgiveness and sincerely resolve to turn our hearts back to God, our repentance restores our harmony with Him. We might feel the need to pray as an expression of thankfulness to God for His love and the many blessings He has already given us. Living with gratitude helps us to recognize God's answers to our prayers and see His loving hand in our lives.
What does prayer require? It requires thoughts about the nature of prayer itself, an open mind, curiosity about a closer relationship with God, and a desire to reach out to Him. All of these are acts of faith that draw us into prayer. Although God knows the thoughts of our hearts, prayer creates a conversation and shows we have the faith to believe He is listening. Prayer also requires that we go to God with trust; trust that while seeking His will for us, we will find it. It also requires being ready for His answer and placing our trust in His plan and vision for our lives.
Do answers to prayer really come? Ask someone you know if God really answers prayers. You may hear that sometimes prayer is answered in small, everyday ways, such as "coincidentally" meeting the right contact that led to finding a job. Or sometimes prayer is answered when a hoped-for job wasn't landed, but a better one was available afterward. At times prayer is answered in big, extraordinary ways. People sometimes experience what are called medical "miracles" or answers to problems that can't be explained logically.
God loves you and me, wants what is best for us, and calls us to experience the power of private prayer with Him. Let's go to God in prayer; He is waiting for us! Read His promise in Jeremiah 29:11-14.
Ever wonder what private prayer really is? Why people do it? What does it require? Do answers to prayer really come?
Prayer is a way for you and me to communicate with God. It's a one-on-one spiritual conversation with Him. No need to be highly educated or an expert on the Bible. And our prayer doesn't have to be formal or sound like someone else's prayers. We can pray openly, from our heart, as we would share with a good friend.
Why do people pray? Coming closer to God through prayer, we can find comfort when we experience grief, feel overwhelmed, or are discouraged. We might pray to seek God's help or protection when facing challenging or frightening circumstances. All of us make mistakes and commit sins. Learning from these situations and seeking God's forgiveness are part of His plan for us. When we offer prayers of forgiveness and sincerely resolve to turn our hearts back to God, our repentance restores our harmony with Him. We might feel the need to pray as an expression of thankfulness to God for His love and the many blessings He has already given us. Living with gratitude helps us to recognize God's answers to our prayers and see His loving hand in our lives.
What does prayer require? It requires thoughts about the nature of prayer itself, an open mind, curiosity about a closer relationship with God, and a desire to reach out to Him. All of these are acts of faith that draw us into prayer. Although God knows the thoughts of our hearts, prayer creates a conversation and shows we have the faith to believe He is listening. Prayer also requires that we go to God with trust; trust that while seeking His will for us, we will find it. It also requires being ready for His answer and placing our trust in His plan and vision for our lives.
Do answers to prayer really come? Ask someone you know if God really answers prayers. You may hear that sometimes prayer is answered in small, everyday ways, such as "coincidentally" meeting the right contact that led to finding a job. Or sometimes prayer is answered when a hoped-for job wasn't landed, but a better one was available afterward. At times prayer is answered in big, extraordinary ways. People sometimes experience what are called medical "miracles" or answers to problems that can't be explained logically.
God loves you and me, wants what is best for us, and calls us to experience the power of private prayer with Him. Let's go to God in prayer; He is waiting for us! Read His promise in Jeremiah 29:11-14.