Prayer

Prayer is a powerful and often underestimated tool. We routinely pray before meals and bedtime, yet we only scratch the surface of its potential. Too often, we treat prayer as a checklist of requests for God or a task to feel self-righteous. We may bow our heads or close our eyes half-heartedly, showing minimal respect to a higher God. Our minds wander during prayer, losing focus on the Provider. We make requests and plead with Him yet struggle to find time to honor Him. Worship on Sunday is seen as fulfilling our duty, though we can never truly repay Him. Instead of supporting others in prayer, we judge their methods or requests, neglecting the opportunity to join them. Our hearts are consumed with selfish desires, overlooking the gift God has given us: a potent tool and an ever-listening Father who cares deeply and grants our needs when they align with His will.

Despite how harsh it may seem, the truth is undeniable. Prayer is meant for us to pour our souls out to God completely, leaving nothing behind. This involves talking with Him, crying, asking questions, expressing our emotions, and being honest with both us and Him about what we need help with. God is not concerned with worldly possessions like new cars or money but with what only He can provide: wisdom, peace, and comfort. He cares about the Holy Spirit within us. By nurturing our Holy Spirit, we strengthen our relationship with God, achievable only through prayer. What matters is that through open-minded prayer, allowing our minds to be renewed, God will grant us the desires of our hearts and help us become who He has called us to be.

Consider Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. (Read Chapter 1) She poured her soul out to the Lord with such intensity that Eli thought she was drunk. She was unconcerned about who might be watching or how she appeared. I envision her on the floor, on her knees, fervently pleading with the Lord. In her prayer, her sole focus was that God would hear her; she recognized her need for a Provider. God listened to her prayers because they came from her spirit, with her heart laid bare before Him. Notably, Hannah prayed for a son to give back to the Lord. Her heart was pure as she asked for something not for herself or her desires but to glorify God. This is a powerful reminder, as we often pray for things to make our lives easier. God heard her prayer and answered it, granting her immediate peace. We know she left with happiness. After pouring her soul out, God bestowed peace of mind upon her. I acknowledge that I sometimes worry and stress, allowing emotions to overtake me. Yet, God has provided us with a solution to this tendency to overthink prayer.

Throughout the Bible, the power of prayer is clearly demonstrated. In 2 Chronicles Chapters 1 and 2, Solomon exemplifies that when we pray with a humble heart, God grants us abundance. Solomon prayed for wisdom, a gift only God can provide, and in return, God blessed him with wealth and much more. Solomon's prayers were driven by love and a desire to please the Lord, not by self-interest or ambition. He sought to honor the Lord in all his actions within the kingdom God entrusted to him. This serves as a powerful reminder to be content with our current blessings. Like many, I often find myself seeking more or looking ahead, instead of asking God to help me fully utilize the blessings I already have.

When I first started writing I use to end every devotion with a prayer. Let's end this way again.

Dear God, who answers our prayers,

We know that you are all-powerful and know the deepest secrets of our hearts. I pray that we can do more than pray out of obligation to you or to check off a box. I pray that we can pour our souls out to you and understand the importance of prayer. I pray that we can glorify you by every word we speak in prayer and that you will see the need pressing down on us and have mercy on us. I pray that we can be like Hannah and put aside our own image and judgments of others and pray with only our spirit leading us. I pray that we can pray like Solomon and have a humble heart to seek your will and what we need in order to fulfill it, that we can be content with what we have and see your blessing in all of it. I pray that we can teach others through your word and by example of what you have commanded us to do. We can't begin to repay you for your son dying on the cross for our sins, or all that your promises provided, but I pray that we can learn how to talk with you. I believe it is the first step after salvation to becoming close to you and knowing you as a Father. I pray that we never take prayer for granted and would each learn how to pour out our soul before you. Thank you for all you will do.

In Jesus Name, Amen.

By Hannah Austin

6/14/25 @ 9:07AM