The Power Of Prayer

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.

I bought a prayer journal this year.

Prayer has always been an area where I’ve struggled to remain consistent. Compared to “prayer warriors” I know, my own prayer life has felt—well, a little lackluster.

So when a friend mentioned that she’d started using a journal with monthly prompts, an area to record Scripture and prayers, and a section to jot down reasons to be grateful, I ordered one for myself. Ever a list maker, I love the mix of practicality and purposefulness.

Now, each morning, I spend my coffee time in prayer. The gap between when I wake my oldest daughter and when she finally makes her way downstairs for school provides just enough space for me to have my first cup and reach toward my journal. Those early morning minutes with Jesus are exactly what I need to help center my thoughts. By the time my cup is empty, I feel better prepared for whatever the day will hold.

Even with my newfound habit, I’ve been challenged to widen the lens of prayer, think bigger, and pray for more. Speaking at church a couple of weeks ago, my friend Eli asked: What would happen if everything you prayed for last week had come true? Would big, audacious prayers have been answered? Or would they have been pretty unremarkable things—an enjoyable dinner, a good night’s sleep for a loved one, or a road cleared of traffic so you could make it to work on time?

It can be easy to get caught up in questioning whether prayer changes anything. We see loved ones struggle and wonder if our intercession for them matters. Yet, in the months since I’ve started my journal, I’ve come to believe that there is value in the practice of prayer. Even if the answer doesn’t look the way I hoped it would. Even if the answer is “not yet.” Prayer can change our external circumstances, but it can bring the most significant changes in our hearts. I’m grateful that even on days when hope and healing feel hard won, peace is always ours for the asking. When we come to God in prayer, he provides the peace we need to face each day.

Kristin

Today’s Act of Gratitude

Spend time in prayer, thanking God for the peace he provides.