Developing a Life of Prayer

Years ago, I found myself in a very hard and life-altering season. I knew that the choices I made would affect me for the rest of my life. I felt lost and hurt, and I thought the Lord had forsaken me. The dreams God put in my heart suddenly felt like they were gathering dust on the shelf.

During that time, a friend of mine gifted me a journal. Little did I know that a journal would form something in me so very special and help me develop a life of prayer that I never knew existed. It was in that journal and in that season that I began to pour out my heart to the Lord through my writing. The meditations of my heart began to spill out on every page. All my tears, sorrows, rejoicing, and breakthroughs could be found in that journal. Each time I sat with the Lord, He would speak to me through the cries of my heart and give me revelation. He would direct me to Scripture, and it was always as though it went right along with what I had written. Sometimes, in those intimate moments while journaling, God spoke to me directly.

I have gone through many journals since that season, and I love to go back and read them to see how God prevailed in those situations and how He spoke to me. It’s a great reminder for me to see how God has been faithful and has directed my path. The Bible tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us.

“Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you” (1 Pet. 5:7 BSB).

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deut. 31:8 NIV).

I believe it’s important to develop a life of prayer, for a few reasons. The first one is that I believe that prayer changes us. It shifts our perspective and forces us to put our attention on Jesus. Prayer changes us by knowing God more intimately. I believe that the Holy Spirit guides us in our prayers and through the outpouring of His Spirit, as we worship a holy God. Prayer changes us because we learn to discern God’s voice. It is easy to get in the habit of making our requests known to God like a list, and then be done with it. I remember hearing from a friend who said he poured out his heart to God in prayer, and when he was done, God said, “Are you done yet?” God wants us to make our requests known to Him, but we must discipline ourselves to wait and seek the Lord for His response.

I have been guilty of pouring out my heart in my journal and being impatient in the waiting and seeking.  I’ve had to learn how to wait. Once I have written what is on my heart, I wait to hear His voice, or I seek Him through getting in the Word. Sometimes, it is a fast response and scriptures jump out. Other times, I wait in silence or continue to seek His Word. Nonetheless, when I do hear God’s voice, I always make sure to write down what He is saying to me in that moment. It’s been an encouraging routine for me to learn and reflect upon. Proverbs 16:20 says, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers, and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord” (NIV).

Secondly, I believe that prayer accompanied with fasting is sometimes the only path we can take to effectively change a situation. When I choose to fast over a particular matter, I write down why I am fasting, how long I will fast, and what I am believing the Lord for. At the end of each day, I like to write down what I am thankful for, how I see God moving, or what He is saying during my fast. At the end of my fast, I like to spend time really focusing and writing on what I learned and what God did. The Bible tells us that our battles are not physical ones. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph. 6:12 KJV).

When caught up in circumstances it is sometimes difficult to see all that is behind our struggles. The Lord knows what is needed. He calls us, not to lay down in defeat, but through heartfelt cries and persistent declarations to overcome the circumstances through prayer. Prayer literally changes the flow of the battle, releases the power of God, and puts angels into action for our good.

“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (Jas. 5:16 NIV).

To conclude, I am so thankful that we serve a God who hears us when we pray and guides us through our most difficult seasons. It doesn’t matter how we come to the Lord and how we develop a prayer life. Whether through journaling in the quietness of a prayer closet or simply with worship music, it is through prayer that God hears our heart’s cry. Calling unto God can help us to grow and change our hearts.

Little did I know all those years ago the impact a journal would have on me. It has taught me how to commune with God. Prayer changes any situation and brings help in troubled times. It opens our ears and helps us to know the voice of the Holy Spirit.