Do you struggle with prayer? Do you find it hard to verbalize or form the words of what you want to say to God when you pray? Have you ever compared how you pray with how someone else does it? We have all struggled with this at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, too many have the misconception of prayer or make it more complicated than it needs to be. So, let's look at what prayer is. 

WHAT IS PRAYER?

Simply put, prayer is conversing with God. It's not just talking to God but also listening to The Lord. Merriam-Webster defines prayer as "an address (such as a petition) to God in word or thought. It's a conversation between you and God. 

It seems pretty simple, right? Then how did something so simple become so complex? We did it! Like many, you probably listened to someone else pray and thought, how did they come up with such eloquent words to say to God? I could never pray like that. And the good news is, you don't have to. 

TEACH US HOW TO PRAY

We are not the only ones who have compared how we pray to how others do it. The disciples were in awe of Jesus when He prayed to His Father, and they asked Him to teach them how to pray. In Luke 11:2-4, Jesus said to them, "When you pray, say, "Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation." 

Like the disciples, we, too, can ask Jesus to teach us how to pray. Then, we can begin praying the prayer he taught the disciples to pray. What a blessing to be able to talk to our Heavenly Father whenever we want to. Sadly, many of us don't take advantage of this tremendous opportunity to do so. 

DON'T BE DISCOURAGED  

Are you seeking God for a breakthrough in the season of fasting and praying? Do you feel discouraged and uncertain? Jesus warns us about this in John 10:10a, he says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy." Satan is a thief! He wants to rob you of your breakthrough. He wants to kill your passion. And He wants to destroy your dreams! He wants to throw you off course, so he will do everything he can to get you to give up, throw in the towel and revert to your old way of living. But here's the good news, in the latter part of that verse, John 10:10b, Jesus says, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus wants us to live a beautiful and bountiful life in Him! 

PRAY IS POWERFUL

You may be facing a storm in your life right now. Unfortunately, the path may not appear clear, and you need help figuring out what to do. We encourage you to fight with prayer! James 5:15 says, "the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." When you pray, God listens! Remember, Satan is not sitting on the throne. God is! 

So, let's begin praying with complete reliance on God each day. Think about this: How different would marriages be if we went to God every day and cried out to Him, signifying we cannot do it without Him? In what ways would our mental health change if we went to God daily and were honest enough to let Him know how much we need Him because our depression and anxiety feel so much bigger than us? What would our families look like if we got on our knees every morning saying, "God, my family is in your hands, not mine." Don't give up! Your prayers are powerful, and they are needed! 

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

We want to help you experience a sense of renewal in your life as we kick off the new year. At the end of the 21 days of Prayer & Fasting, we believe we will hear amazing stories of the many ways God has worked in us and through us in this season of faithfulness to Him! For additional resources, check out the links below:

• MESSAGE: For the entire message from Part 3 of Liquid Church's "Breakthrough" Series, "The Power of Prayer," click here. 
• ARTICLE: Facing Giants - Do you have obstacles in your life that seem bigger than you? To learn how you can face them and overcome them, click here. 
• DEEP BREATHE: Deep Breath is a daily devotional text message that comes straight to your phone Monday through Friday. These short videos help you get your morning going with a dose of Scripture, guided prayer, and some motivation from Pastor Tim Lucas to start your day. To get started, sign up here.