Nicaragua was an incredible month of ministry. We spent hours each week using the creative skills God gave us to help kick-start a new ministry; we got to pour into the community around us through evangelism; and pour into each other as a squad and as a team. We learned a whole heck of a lot about overflow, and true rest, and I learned quite a bit about true adventure as well (read that here!). But the one thing that made the biggest impact on my month was learning about the power of prayer.
If I’m being completely transparent, I typically struggle with true prayer. I’ve ‘prayed’ my entire life – at church, at meals, at bedtime. I’ve even taught about prayer in my time as a children’s director, “All prayer is is talking to God!”
But if all it is is talking to God, why is prayer so difficult?
This was the question I sought to answer in Nicaragua, and I was blessed to have ALL the opportunities to pursue prayer. So I started praying…and I learned what prayer is…and what it is not.
Prayer IS approaching the throne of the King and Creator of the universe who is in all and above all and deserves all the honor and glory.
Prayer is NOT dependent on your position in the church or in life – only your faith in the God you’re talking to.
Prayer IS humbling yourself before the Lord.
Prayer is NOT hours spent on your knees reminding God how terrible you are. He knows what you’ve done and what you will do, and it’s already forgiven.
Prayer IS telling the Lord your needs and desires.
Prayer is NOT like rubbing a magic lamp or making a wish on a star. God does not always grant us our prayers immediately, and He usually answers them in ways we don’t expect.
Prayer IS time spent with the Lord, listening to His voice. This takes practice and patience.
Prayer does NOT have to be formal or structured, or spoken aloud, or in a specific place or posture, or time (but it can be, and it can be beautiful those ways, too).
Prayer IS a conversation with our Father, who delights in us, created us, and knows us better than we know ourselves.
Prayer is NOT less powerful than actually doing something – in fact, what God can do because of our prayers will have a much greater impact than what we can do on our own.
Prayer IS an opportunity to get real with God, with ourselves, and with others. In prayer, we learn who we really are because in prayer, we find out more about who God is.
Prayer is NOT optional. Like a husband and wife must communicate with each other (so all the married people say), we too must communicate with God. A relationship with no conversation is not a relationship at all.
Prayer IS the key to our faith, and it’s amazing what’s behind that unlocked door.
As prayer is much bigger than the items mentioned above, I would love to hear your thoughts on what prayer is and what it is not, or your experiences in prayer.
I am so thankful for all of you who keep me in your prayers, and know that I pray for you, too. I would love to pray specific prayers for you – if you have any requests, feel free to comment below or send me an email or a message on Facebook! I cannot wait to hear from you!
