If you grew up in the church, it is likely that you were told, “praying is just talking to God!” There is a reason we like to remind our children of that–because it’s true. When we want to develop relationships and stay in contact with friends, we talk to them. In the same way, we talk to the Lord to be in His presence and seek intimacy with Him in our lives.
The beauty of our salvation is that God literally dwells within us, and we are able to have a very personal and real relationship with Him. Prayer allows us to continue this authentic and intimate line of communication.
This doesn’t mean that prayer is always easy or that we are perfect at it. There may be days when you feel completely exhausted and drained from what a day threw at you, and you forget or simply don’t take the time to sit in God’s presence in prayer with Him. We could all spend more time in prayer with the Lord, seeking more of Him. Seeking the Lord does not mean He has been far away; rather, it is for our own sake to grow in our faith and our love for Him, that we may understand who He is and be more like Him (Romans 8:29). When we accept Christ as Lord of our life, God’s Spirit comes to live in us and with us (John 14:16-17, 1 Corinthians 3:16). He is near. Psalm 145:18 says, “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” He is simply waiting and desiring for us to come to Him as we are.
How can we seek the Lord more intentionally in our prayers? If you feel confident that your prayer life is in a good place, in what ways can you grow in your prayers? Reflect on your prayers. Are they self-serving or are your prayers focused on who the Lord is? Maybe you feel as if you don’t seek the Lord through prayer enough. How are you going to actively start seeking the Lord through prayer?
There are a few reasonable ways to pray without ceasing–to pray with intentionality (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Breath Prayers (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
Have you ever heard of breath prayers? It is a continuation of prayer with every breath you take throughout the day. It is a reminder that, with every breath, we call on and seek the Lord. Whether you are stuck in a car line to get your child from school or you are sitting at your desk at work, at school, or driving down the road, you can be in prayer. Breath prayers are small, simple, yet profound, ways to go to the Lord consistently and continually every day. Memorize scripture to pray throughout your day under your breath. Recenter your focus on the Lord throughout the day.
Journaling Prayers (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
Whether you enjoy journaling or not, this is a great way to stay focused on what you are praying. The beauty of writing down your prayers is that you can go back and see how the Lord has moved in your life since you wrote that specific prayer. It’s a reminder of His faithfulness and consistency in your life. It is as simple as grabbing a notebook as a prayer journal and jotting down daily prayers to the Lord. Journal and write as you sit in His presence reflecting on who He is, what He’s done, and how you can be more like Him. All it takes is a pen, paper, and a heart ready to transparently and intentionally seek the Lord.
Sit in silence. (Psalm 46:10)
Sometimes we feel like we have to be constantly talking when praying. Praying is an opportunity to connect with God, and that doesn’t always mean we should be the ones talking. Allow God to speak to you. Pray small, bold prayers and sit with the silence and fullness of God’s presence in that moment.
With each of these–breath prayers, journaling, sitting in silence as you listen to the Lord–God’s Word should be what guides our prayers. In our breath prayers, we can pray a verse over our day and to the Lord. In our journaling, we can scribble down a few verses. As we allow space for the Lord to speak in our prayers, we can pray a psalm as we sit in His presence and listen intently.
Assume a posture of prayer that will help you intentionally and consistently seek the Lord. Take a week to choose one of the three ways you can intentionally seek the Lord through prayer. Read His Word and let it guide your prayer. God is not far; He is near to us and with us. Seek Him through your prayer as an overflow of your love for Him.