Pray First: The Transformative Influence of Passionate Prayer: Unlocking God’s Power in 2024
Prayer is an extraordinary gift that enables us to connect with God. It bestows upon us power, passion, guidance, wisdom, and so much more.
Diving into the inspiring truths about the life-changing power of prayer, we explore the benefits of daily prayer, the importance of bold prayers, strategies to overcome distractions, and the significance of spiritual fitness.
If you desire to go deeper in your relationship with God and see more of his miraculous power unleashed in your life, developing a passionate prayer life is absolutely essential.
Why We Must Commit to Pray in 2024
We just entered a new year, which is always an amazing time for fresh starts and renewed commitment to grow closer to God. Praying in the Spirit connects us directly to God's power, wisdom, and supernatural help for every situation.
As we embark on the journey into 2024, we are inviting everyone to elevate their prayer life. Will you join us in the dedication to pray like never before in the coming year? Together, as a family, let's embrace this opportunity!
Living the Blessed Life Through Prayer
"You'll Never Live A Blessed Life Without A Prayer Life.
Do you want to live a blessed, victorious life? Here is the simple but profound truth: "You'll never live a blessed life without a prayer life." What does it mean to be blessed? It's not about having a perfect, problem-free life. But it does mean that no matter what comes your way, God causes you to triumph in the end.
So how do we live that kind of overcoming, blessed life? Through a passionate, faith-filled prayer life. When you learn to pray powerful, God-sized prayers, you tap into His supernatural blessings and help.
Unfortunately, many Christians end up limiting what God wants to do through small, weak prayers. We were created to pray bold, world-changing prayers! In Psalms 81:10, God makes this daring invitation: “Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.” He wants us to open our mouths wide in big, audacious prayers instead of lifting up tiny little cups. When we learn to pray like this, a breakthrough happens!
God Desires Bold Prayers
One mistaken idea about prayer is that God is bothered or irritated when we bring large requests to him. But the truth is, our big dreams and impossible prayers don't faze God at all - in fact, He invites them! God's desire is to show himself strong on behalf of those who have faith to pray boldly. In Psalms 81:10, at a pivotal moment in Israel's history, God makes this intriguing statement:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.”
Talk about an incredible invitation! After miraculously delivering Israel from captivity, God essentially challenges them: You saw My power and favor setting you free from slavery. Now dream big dreams! Pray bold prayers! Ask for the impossible and trust Me to provide.
This verse utterly crushes the notion that we bother God by bringing him big requests. On the contrary, He wants us to approach his throne with wide-open mouths ready to receive all that he wants to pour into our lives. Will you accept God's challenge to pray boldly rather than offer up weak, fearful prayers?
Jabez's Bold Prayer
We see another example of courageous prayer in 1 Chronicles 4:10 when a man named Jabez prays a daring prayer:
“Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!" So, God granted him what he requested." (1 Chronicle 4:10)
Despite his humble background, Jabez prayed a big prayer asking for blessing, protection, and provision. He cried out to God with deep passion and was not timid or passive. And God answered mightily! This one account utterly destroys the notion that God is bothered by big requests and bold prayers. On the contrary, He honors courageous prayers offered up in faith.
The enemy wants believers to limit their prayers and shrink back from asking God for the impossible. But God invites us to dream big with him! He wants you to pray so impossible that only an omnipotent God could pull them off.
When your prayer life is marked by bold faith rather than fear and limitation, you open the door for the miraculous in your life. Will you accept God's invitation?
Turning the Tables on Distractions
We all struggle with distracted minds when we try to pray. Suddenly, a swarm of random thoughts and to-do's bombard us the moment we close our eyes. This is the brilliant solution to how we are "turning the tables on the devil."
Four Simple Steps To Follow To Avoid Distraction When Praying
Before you pray, grab a pad of paper and a pen.
As you begin praying, write down any distractions or random thoughts that pop into your head.
Keep writing them down but don't stop praying.
When you finish, thank God that what the enemy meant to distract you became a helpful to-do list! Such a great idea for overcoming distraction and sticking with prayer.
The Benefits of a Vibrant Prayer Life
Building a daily prayer life will utterly transform you. Here are just a few of the incredible benefits:
It makes you more like Jesus - You become like those you spend time with. Hang out with Jesus in daily prayer and you'll start thinking, talking, and responding more like Him.
It feeds your spirit - Prayer is the umbilical cord to spiritual life. It's your lifeline connecting you directly to God's passion, power, wisdom, grace, and resources.
It saves time - Prayer gives you wisdom for better decisions, divine direction to avoid pitfalls, and God's supernatural help to remove obstacles from your path.
It keeps you spiritually fit - Just like physical fitness, you need a spiritual fitness routine. Daily prayer gives you strength, energy, and passion to live a vibrant, overcoming life.
And this is just the shortlist! There are so many reasons you need to build regular prayer times into your daily rhythm.
Nurturing Spiritual Well-Being
Physical health requires diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices. In the same way, spiritual health requires developing prayer habits and other spiritual disciplines. If you fail to do this, you pay consequences, such as:
Unnecessary problems
Higher stress
Damaged relationships
Added guilt
Lower life quality
Many people don't want to pay the price for living a healthy physical lifestyle. In the same way, far too many believers don't want to develop strong spiritual exercise routines.
We must become crossfit-trained and toned, both physically AND spiritually! This happens through prayer. Determine today that you will pray like never before. Develop your spiritual muscles to walk in strength, peace, and blessing!
Build daily prayer times into your personal life. And make this bold 2024 declaration: I will pray like never before!
Will you take this challenge? Let's support and encourage each other. When we join our hearts in prayer, a breakthrough happens!
PRAY FIRST!