Enriching Our Prayers from Multiple Angles

Prayer is the language of the divine, in full agreement with the creation all around us.

An enriched prayer life might seem a little daunting to some, sure, but that shouldn’t stop us from walking out the faith we have.

Prayer is the intimate connection we have with our Heavenly Father, and it certainly works.

Our Father loves to listen to us, hearing our requests with ultimate patience and love.

God is pleased with the prayers of the righteous and faithful who choose to follow Him.

“If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” (Matthew 7:11 [ESV]).

Many believers pray more when times are harder, and things aren’t going as smoothly as they would like. But the testing of our faith produces such wonderful treasures, so we shouldn’t seek to escape the trials, because they end up making gold or silver.

We can liken our trials in life to silver being smelted. Pure silver seems the ideal, but when adding alloys to it to make sterling silver, the metal is strengthened, and far less brittle. It isn’t possible to make 100% silver, and perfection is out of reach. Humanity is only able to make 99.99% silver at best, but it’s not as strong as when being smelted through the crucible and mixed with distinct elements to refine it into something strong.

The same applies to the purest gold. It is only when things are refined by strengthening that true life and light shine through.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that prayer works in the same way. Hard times bring us closer to seeking our God. It’s only when life has its less-than-rosy moments that the peak moments shine through for us, much like a brilliant quasar out in the distant universe, which are the strongest things in existence. Our prayers are strengthened through trials, and the light flows within us from on high.

But to truly live a life with a close relationship to our Father, Yahweh (blessed be His name), we must find it within ourselves to pray in every station we find ourselves in.

Gratitude prayers are just as important as those made from the depths of despair.

Prayers for others are from a kinder manner of heart, unselfishly wishing the best for people.

Prayers for our enemies teach us to love as Christ loved, who even wanted God to forgive the people who were crucifying Him. He loved them in their ignorance, but used it for ultimate glory.

People can say what they want about us, despise us, whatever it may be. But we should pray for them in return. Walking with Christ isn’t always easy, but the reward is so much better when we learn to pray according to God’s will.

God makes the sun rise every day in its orbit, and both the righteous and wicked receive its light.

In the same manner, our actions and prayers can offer light to others—with varying results, of course. Some people don’t want to come to the light, or fear the light. Some don’t want the darkest things of their lives put out for the eyes of the Father to see.

We can plant the seed, or pray a prayer, and let God give the increase, or do the rest.

It doesn’t matter what time of day we pray or how we go about it. We can pray while taking a walk out in nature, or right before bed, or throughout the day, even in small things.

“Father, thank You for this day You have created for us. Lead me not into error, temptation, or wickedness, but show me what it is You’d have me do today.”

Prayer solves everything, at least in my opinion it does.

Not sure which direction to take?

Ask in prayer for God to close the wrong doors, windows, and any other potential entry point.

Not sure about your love life?

Ask God to send you to the right man or woman that He made just for you. And leave the past in the past, moving forward past wrong choices and mistakes.

Did you have a fight with your brother, sister, or child? Perhaps even your parents?

Ask God for His grace to rectify and reconcile, and pray He gives you the patience needed to work things out.

Did you just have an incredible meal? Thank Him, before and after. It seems basic, but many of us forget the simple things such as this.

Thank God for music, for beauty, for love.

Thank God when you get an amazing haircut that suits you and works well.

There are an infinite number of things to thank Him for.

But prayer is not always about giving alms of thanks to God.

Sometimes prayer is about finding that deeper part of your soul that you know is there, about finding out more about yourself and your relationship with Him.

To teach you a lesson of some kind, whether patience, or other virtues.

“Help me trust You and Your plans over selfish desires.”

It’s not that you can’t pray for things. It’s about the heart behind it.

Solomon was given many riches and honor because he sought wisdom from God over everything else.

And God gave him wisdom plus those things, anyway.

Sometimes, there’s something you want more than anything, but you have to be OK with not holding on so much.

Or, it might take praying for the courage to take that next step. There’s room for misinterpretation and being careful about how we go about things, after all.

There’s nothing wrong with being careful, slow, and intentional about our prayer or our lives.

But the best part?
God will meet us where we are at, whether our faith has evolved in understanding or we’ve stumbled in some way that sets us back (maybe it’s only our doubts).

So don’t be afraid to pray, making your requests known to God (Philippians 4:6).

I guarantee He, as a loving Father, wants to hear from you.