Week 13 - #Prepare - “Prayers”

Even Popcorn Prayers are Heard

Philippians 4:6,7: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”

Psalm 18:6 "In my distress I called to the Lord;I cried to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."

I’m sure you have experienced or felt before the "power of prayer,” and heard many times how prayer is our "direct line" to our Heavenly Father.

So why then, do we often find countless other avenues to travel down, while “reaching” for something always “better” before fully surrendering to prayer?

Maybe it's because we think for God to really hear us, we must literally get down on our hands and knees and who has time for that, right?

It is true that God desires our full attention. He wants a relationship with us. He does like us to be still and listen.

But whether our petitions are presented to Him in the stillness of our quiet times, (kneeling, sitting or standing), or we are in the midst of our most chaotic moments, sending up even “popcorn” requests, God hears us. He hears you!

So maybe the most important question is not about; how you pray, where you pray, or how often you pray, but simply do you pray?

In this time of preparation, what do you need to “to establish, fix, or apply” when it comes to your prayer life?

Whatever your practice for prayer is, one strategy or key to ensuring you are consistent with prayer might be to simply "calendar it!"

Stephen Covey taught his audiences over the years to never allow “what matters most to be sacrificed for what matters least.” In order to do this we must ensure what Covey referred to as the "big rocks,” to always be scheduled first.

In this year of preparation I believe there is no "bigger rock” than to spend time with God in prayer. Although the little things are truly important, they cannot displace what matters most.

In Philippians 4:6,7, we are encouraged to“not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God.”

True confession, I have to work at this daily, especially on the "intentional, and sitting still in quiet moments" part to pray. But, I also have a conversation with God all day, in my work and in my play.

As the scripture in Psalms 18:6 reveals, God hears our voice, and He is always near. On your knees in the temple, at home in your closet, or in the car while in the driveway God hears and He wants to hear your voice.

DADs, let’s prepare and cry out in prayer Today.

Psalm 18:6" In my distress I called to the Lord;I cried to my God for help.From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came before him, into his ears."

*This week we talked about prayer and how God listens to our crying out.

Next week, we practice and prepare to better hear and listen to what

God is calling us to, and to become better listeners to those He places in our lives**

To God be the glory!

DADs“get in the game”
Today is game day and so is every day God gives you! 
So C’mon Men Suit Up!

Note: *For this new year of 2021, the combination of my age (understanding my own fragile mortality), this current and ongoing global pandemic, and most recently the personal loss I’ve experienced of one of my students, has amplified the need to land on one word... #Prepare.

In this "pursuit to prepare" I am determined to dedicate the 52 weeks of 2021 blogging every Week about one aspect of preparation God lays on my heart. This week 13 we talk about what it means to "prepare” for prayer.

As mentioned in week 1, the word “prepare” means “to establish, fix, or apply.” It conveys the idea of deliberate effort over a prolonged period of time.