Category Archives: Prayer

Regular Prayer

“When you pray to God regularly,
irregular things happen on a regular basis.”

Mark Batterson, “Draw the Circle”


Friends, this is where most of us mess up.

How many of us pray on a regular basis?

I know people who pray regularly. I know prayer warriors. I look up to them. They have incredible stories.

Find the prayer warriors around you. Ask them about their practice of prayer. Ask them to tell you their stories. Be amazed and encouraged by them.

And then go do the same!

I don’t know about you, but I learn best through repetition. While I don’t want to encourage prayer simply because you want to continue repeating a habit, I do want to encourage the forming of the habit of prayer. Not out of need to check an item off a list, but out of a deep desire to learn and come closer to God through daily conversation.

My point here is we need to develop the habit of setting aside time to have a conversation with the Father. He wants to hear from us, and he wants to speak to us. Developing the habit of daily speaking and listening will undoubtedly help us hear clearly the words he has for us.

Do you want to know exactly what God the Father saying to you? Develop the habit of conversing with him. The more you commit to the habit, the better you will understand the language he’s using.

 

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In a few weeks I’ll begin posting about some of the tools to use to learn the language of prayer and better develop the habit of prayer. I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss out.



Acquiring a Prayer Language

I was (am) horrible at learning foreign languages. I tried German in high school, and Spanish in college. I passed, but I don’t know how. I think the Spanish prof in college was simply ready for me to be finished. You know, put me out of my misery.

Now I’m jumping back in! It is time to once again acquire a new language. This time though, I have a better chance of success. I have a deep down desire to learn this language to the best of my ability.

PRAYER LANGUAGE
Trying to acquire a prayer language can seem as daunting to some people (or more) as acquiring a language like Spanish, or German, or Mandarin.

It takes work.

It takes consistent study.

It certainly takes a desire to master the language.

In his book, “Draw the Circle – The 40 Day Prayer Challenge,” Mark Batterson states, “Acquiring a prayer language is as arduous as learning a foreign language.” (p.224)

Wow. You know what? He’s right. For someone like me, who struggled with languages, this statement could be daunting. It could be all it takes for me to stop trying.

But I won’t.

There is a much bigger benefit to learning this language. And the God of everything wants me to learn it! He wants me to struggle through the learning and the halting conversation. He wants me to spend the necessary time to learn the words. He wants me to spend the time needed to understand the words He is speaking to me. Nothing was ever said about it being easy.

The words, “Lord, teach us to pray,” were uttered by Jesus’ own disciples. If they needed instruction in how to learn the language, we certainly do as well.

The depth of our conversation and relationship can always grow deeper and closer. I believe our desire to grow closer to God is the most important factor in mastering this language.
As I journey forward, I hope you will join me in learning this language.
Be well.

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In a few weeks I’ll begin posting about some of the tools to use to learn the language of prayer and better develop the habit of prayer. I invite you to subscribe so you don’t miss out.

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