Why do we pray? Why is prayer so important? Have you ever wondered why there is such an emphasis placed on prayer among Christians? Have you struggled to seen any value in praying? I have certainly done this and felt this way! But as I have grown in my walk with Christ, I am constantly reminded of my deep need for Him and that I need to take everything to Him in prayer. The Scriptures below encourage us in this:
Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
When we give our life to Christ, God becomes our Father, and He desires a real and personal relationship with us. Communicating is a HUGE part of any relationship! Prayer is simply talking to God and telling Him how you feel and asking for His help in our everyday life. Although it can seem insignificant, prayer is essential to the life of the Christian.
When Covid first happened, back in early 2020, my husband Grant was extremely sick and hospitalized for several days. This was such a hard time for everyone and I started praying over the phone with many women in our church for him and others. Some days I cried the whole time I prayed. Some days my hair was crazy and I had no makeup on and we still prayed over face-time. I called so many women in our church and asked them to pray with me, out loud, over the phone. We truly saw God move and answer many of those prayers.
That is when we started our Women’s Prayer Team and the Zoom calls that we do on Monday mornings at 10am. Now, over four years later, we still meet over Zoom almost every Monday at 10am and pray over our church family, for our pastors, and each other's personal requests. And God has so graciously answered many prayers. He is so good!
Yes, it has been four years, but I don't want to stop this sweet time of prayer! I invite you to join us for 30 minutes on Monday mornings to pray with us over zoom. We have a short ten minute devotional, I share a few church-wide prayer requests, then we split up into breakout groups to share our personal prayer requests, and then we pray for each other! It really is simple and I look forward to it each week! Many of you may remember this precious hymn that I grew up singing in our little country church as a child:
Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer!
That calls me from a world of care,
And bids me at my Father’s throne
Make all my wants and wishes known.
In seasons of distress and grief,
My soul has often found relief
And oft escaped the tempter’s snare
By thy return, sweet hour of prayer!
What an honor and privilege it is to pray for our church, to intercede on behalf of our people, and to fight for them in prayer. As a member of the Women's Prayer Team, let's take up the mantel to cover our church family and everything our church does, in prayer. Our prayers tell the Lord that we are dependent upon Him and that we need His help. Prayer is a form of humility, because our actions are telling God, "Lord, I can't do this without You."
Let us be women who pray about everything: Pray over your family by name. Pray over your close friends and their children by name. Pray over the prayer requests mentioned in your small group. Pray over those who you meet in a restaurant or grocery store. Pray for those in your circle of influence that need to come to faith in Jesus. Pray for your co-workers and neighbors. Pray for God's will to be done in your life. We truly have so much to pray for!
Our God is a God who hears our prayers and answers prayer. I truly believe that my life will not be what God desires for me without prayer! We have seen God do some wonderful miracles and answer prayers in some amazing ways in our church and our family, and I don’t want to stop praying! I want to see the Lord's hand to continue to work in our lives!
Take some time to pray through these prayer points:
Lord, help me to make prayer a priority.
Lord, remind me that when I pray, I am showing You that I need You with my actions.
Lord, I believe that communicating with You changes me and impacts others in positive ways.
Lord, help me to boldly come before Your throne to ask for Your help in my times of need.
Lord, forgive me for the times that I don't bring my requests to You.
Lord, when am worried and anxious, let me respond with prayer right away, giving You my concerns.
Father God,
I come before You in the mighty name of Jesus Christ, and I humbly ask for Your mercy and grace on my life. I thank You for the honor of being Your daughter and having the privilege to come boldly before Your throne in prayer for myself, and on behalf of others. Lord, I ask for Your help with _______________________ (be specific) in my life. I know that You are stronger and more powerful than any problem that I face. I can confidently bring all my worries and concerns to You and lay them at Your feet. Help me to be a woman of prayer for myself, my family, and my church.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
In Christ Alone,
Michelle Staubs
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