2:112 – How Do You Pray?

#faith bites #faithjourney how

If you’ve read #faithbites more than once, you will notice that I also end with a prayer. For some, prayer is as easy as saying hi to a friend. For others, it is very difficult. Lately, I have been listening to Known Legacy – By Dad’s For Dad’s, podcast. The one I listened to was all about prayer and how to pray.

I don’t think there is a right or wrong way to pray. The guys at known legacy said to imagine Jesus is in your passenger seat and you are just talking to him. Or you could image your Heavenly Father is like your Earthly Father.

The fact is, your dad just wants to hear from you. You don’t need flowery words, you don’t need a degree in Divinity, all you need is to speak you heart. It can be as simple as “Hey God, it’s been a while since we’ve talked. I just want to thank you for everything I have, Amen.” That’s it. When you build a relationship with Him, you are then more likely to cast your burdens on Him.

I wanted to share below, my nightly prayer. I don’t know if it’s right, but I do it every night, I find comfort in it, and I believe God is listening.

Sol’s Prayer

Dear God, thanks for everything you’ve given me today. Thanks for all the opportunities and challenges of the day. Help me (this is where I ask for whatever I need help with. Many times, it’s all about my failings in the day). Please look out for (whatever is going on in the world or my life. Could be an attack, a sickness, etc).

God thank you for (this is where I go through each person in my immediate family. I ask for them to be happy, healthy, and strength in whatever try are going through. I also ask for strength for me to be better in my relationship with them).

Lord, thank you for all these things and more. Please be with everyone who needs you at this time Amen.

Scripture

• Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ─ Philippians 4:6-7
• Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ─ 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

• Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come,
  thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
  Give us this day our daily bread;
  and forgive us our trespasses,
  as we forgive those who trespass against us;
  and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
  For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,
  forever and ever. Amen. – Luke 11:2-4

  Reflection

  My prayer is just my prayer. I find solace in it and fall asleep many nights saying it in my head. Above is the version of the Lord’s Prayer that we use in our church. It helps when there is no words.
  The thing to think of is prayer is a conversation. It’s a way to talk to our father about our day, our lives, what we are thankful for and what we need.
  He wants us to say hi. Sure He wants a deeper relationship, but every relationship starts with an introduction.

  Charge

  Take a baby step today and say Hi God. Just reach out and listen to Him. He wants to know you. Don’t worry about a formalized speech or specific words, just say hi. Like in all conversations, it gets better and easier the more you talk to each other.

  Prayer

  Hi God, thank you for listening to Ys know matter the words we chose. We love you father. Help us to know that you want us to open up to you and cast our burdens on you. Give us the strength to know you are always here and it doesn’t matter how we pray as long as we pray you love us. In your gracious name, I pray Amen.