Many times we underestimate the considerable power of prayer. And what praying accomplishes in our lives, hearts, and in the heavenly realm. 

Because believing in prayer is not the same as actually spending time in prayer. 

So we often struggle in this area of the Christian walk.

In these current unprecedented days, I desire to spend more time with God in prayer—to anchor myself to Him. I need the power of prayer every day.

Let’s unpack some reasons not to underestimate the power of P-R-A-Y-E-R. Also, these reasons benefit our heart and our relationship with God.

Never Underestimate the Power of Prayer-Praise

P – Proclaims the Lord’s glory and praise.

Proclaiming the Lord’s glory and praise is not just for times of corporate worship. In fact, prayer is a form of individual worship. And it’s never all about us like a kid with a wish-list of wants and give-me’s. 

Praising the Lord and glorifying His holy name is a great way to start prayer. It’s a wonderful way to pray in-between petitions and intercessions, and to finish prayer.

“My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.” Psalm 71:8 (ESV)

Praising the Lord and glorifying His holy name is a great way to start prayer. It’s a wonderful way to pray in-between petitions and intercessions, and to finish prayer. @FridayKaren #Prayer
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R – Renews a right spirit in us.

In Psalm 51, David prayed to confess his sin with Bathsheba and ask the Lord for a clean heart. He asked God to restore the joy of his salvation, and to renew a right spirit in him. 

And the Lord graciously answered by doing all this and more. God restored David spiritually and to his position.

Likewise, prayer spiritually restores us in our relationship with God (and others). And even our position when a right spirit’s renewed in us. 

“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 (ESV)

Never Underestimate the Benefits Prayer Achieves

A – Arms us for spiritual warfare.

The Bible makes it clear, we face an unseen enemy and the forces of darkness. Ephesians 6:10-17 describes the armor of God and its importance in this battle. But we often miss the final piece in verse 18. Prayer! 

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:18 (NIV)

Y – Yields our hearts to God’s purposes.

I sometimes find it difficult to yield my plans and will to the Lord. But I’m learning God’s ways are best, He knows best, and all the best things come from Him. 

Notice the verses preceding the one we often quote, Romans 8:28. 

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:26-28 (ESV, emphasis added)

Power of Prayer-Release

E – Encourages an intimate relationship with God.

We build intimate relationships by spending time with people. So the same is true with God. When we are in God’s presence praying and listening to what He has to say to us, our intimacy with Him grows. And we know and understand Him better.

We note Revelation 3:20 for salvation, and rightly so. Yet, it’s also a spiritual image of inviting the Lord into our lives over and over. 

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20 (ESV) 

When we are in God’s presence praying and listening to what He has to say to us, our intimacy with Him grows. And we know and understand Him better. @FridayKaren #Prayer
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R – Releases our burdens and control to God.

God didn’t create us to carry burdens or to allow us control. The Creator is CEO of the world and my life because I belong to Him. I only mess things up and create more burdens for myself when I take over. 

And the Lord has a strong shoulder for the burdens heaped upon us from others or due to cultural issues. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)

Also see, Practical Prayers From Head to Toe.

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LINKUP is open! Join @FridayKaren to discuss how we underestimate the power of prayer and what it accomplishes in our lives, hearts, and in the heavenly realm. Share your blog! #blog #Prayer
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The post Never Underestimate Prayer {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

Like prayers taken directly from God’s Word that are powerful when spoken over the various areas of our lives.

This is especially true where we struggle.

So let’s address the issues we face as believers from head to toe. And these prayers include the help we need from the Bible.

Our prayers include: our mind, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands, and feet.

Everything from our head to our toes.

Practical Prayers: Mind

Father God, You created my mind, so I submit it to Your care. Help me set my mind on eternal things. And give me power to take every thought captive, making it obedient to Your truth. I cast out every lie from the enemy. Help me meditate on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and excellent of praise. Let Your Spirit renew my mind daily in Your Word. Also, give me the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 16, Romans 12:2a, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Practical Prayers: Eyes

Lord, Your Word reminds me how my eyes can cause me to sin. So help me turn my eyes away from lust and temptations like overspending, addictions, and sexual immorality. Place in me a desire for integrity. Give me the strength through Your Spirit to not set things before my eyes that do not please You on television, devices, and online. Because those things never bring honor to You, but defile my flesh. And it stunts my growth in You. Instead, let my eyes be raised to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Genesis 3:6a, 1 John 2:15-16, Psalm 101:3a)

Practical Prayers: Ears

God, I want to be a child who diligently listens to my heavenly Father’s voice. And to really hear Your truth. Show me the way by opening my ears to Your voice—never stopping up my ears like a stubborn child. But I want to welcome Your truth in my life and never turn away to myths. When I accepted Christ as Savior, I opened the door of my heart to You for the first time. Now, help me hear You knock so I may dine with You daily. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

(Scriptures: Exodus 15:26, Isaiah 30:21a, Zechariah 7:11, 2 Timothy 4:3-4, Revelation 3:20)

Practical Prayers: Mouth

Lord, I pray the words of my mouth are acceptable to You and I keep my lips from lies. Set a guard over my mouth so that instead of foolish words, my words give grace and build others up. Let my mouth praise You with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Psalm 19:14, Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 12:22a, Ephesians 4:29, Ephesians 5:4)

Lord, I pray the words of my mouth are acceptable to You. Set a guard over my mouth so my words give grace and build others up. Let my mouth praise You with thanksgiving. In Jesus’ name. Amen. #prayer @FridayKaren
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Practical Prayers: Shoulders

Lord, I carry burdens only meant for You. Please lift any worry and anxiety. Your burden is light and frees me to rest from the heaviness of life’s struggles. Grant me compassion to help carry the burdens of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Matthew 11:28-30, Luke 15:3-5, Galatians 6:2)

Practical Prayers: Heart

Father, since You look at the heart and not the outside, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Help me guard my heart, above all else. And give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: 1 Samuel 16:7, Psalm 51:10a, Psalm 119:11, Proverbs 4:23, Matthew 22:37a)

Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Help me guard my heart, above all else. In Jesus’ name. Amen. #prayer @FridayKaren
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Practical Prayers: Hands

God, give me clean hands for righteous acts, not for evil. Let my hands do good and bring good to others. Help me lift my hands to praise Your holy name and not the false gods of this world. Establish the work of my hands in my job and in ministry for Your kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Psalm 24:3-4, Psalm 90:17a, Psalm 134:2, Acts 6:6b)

Practical Prayers: Feet

Lord, I desire beautiful feet like Jesus that bring good news and proclaim how You reign over all the earth. Let my feet spread the gospel of peace. Keep my feet on Your paths and on the solid rock—Christ. Help me walk in the light of Your glory and Holy Word to avoid the darkness so my feet do not slip from Your righteous path. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

(Scriptures: Isaiah 52:7, Psalm 17:5, Psalm 119:105a, Ephesians 6:15, 1 John 1:7)

Which practical prayer from head to toe speaks the most to you? Will you join me to pray them daily?

But, please also use these powerful prayers for your spouse, children, family, and friends.

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LINKUP is open. Join my friend @FridayKaren for practical prayers taken directly from the Bible that address the issues we face as believers from head to toe. Share your blog! #blog
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The post Practical Prayers From Head to Toe {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

We can keep praying after.

God doesn’t say “cease praying” after the test results suggest the worst or the conversation ends terribly or the morning rush causes us to forget what we even read in the Bible that morning.

In our limited sense of time, praying after things seem “finished” can feel futile.

We sometimes act like prayer has a deadline before it’s “too late.”

Because, really….why pray about something that has already happened?

Can the Lord change even that which is in retrospect? Is He sovereign over history when it’s already been written? Scripture doesn’t suggest God retroactively answers prayers or puts us all in a supernatural time machine to perform miracles past (though God did turn back time once!)

Unlike our concept of “changers” in sci-fi movies that erase and replant memories to “change history, “the Lord is in the business of changing hearts. And while that may not change what has already happened, it does change our perspective. That makes all the difference.

Just because something is over to us doesn’t mean God’s done working it into good.

After you complete that nerve-wracking conversation, pray. Turn to the Lord. He can work in your heart to use that conversation for good. He does, after all, work all things together for the good of those who love Him according to His will and great purposes (Romans 8:28.)

He can also change the heart of the one you spoke to. Or the loved one who faced the tragedy. And even the course of that decision you made that you’re not so sure about.

IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO TURN TO THE LORD.

That should affect how we live in this world and how we relate to others. Forgiveness is all the more possible when we live according to the truth:

Grace has no expiration date.
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So pray after it all goes crazy, it all goes well, and you have no idea how any of it could go anywhere.

He remains faithful and is reigning over it all- past, present, and future.

“Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.” –1 Chronicles 29:11

{A version of this post originally appeared on First and Second blog}

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LINKUP party is open! Today, @BethanyMcIlrath reminds us that Just because something is over to us doesn't mean God's done working it into good. JOIN US?
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The post Keep Praying When It’s “Over” {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.