5 Simple Tips To Transform Your Prayer Life.

Prayer is the lifewire of a Christian. It’s the channel through which we receive God’s divine resources. The depth of our relationship with God rises and falls on the depth of our prayer life.

I can personally testify that when I am consistent in prayer, I become more productive, more at peace, wiser, more thoughtful of others, and more loving. I am also more in step with the Holy Spirit

Through prayer, God heals me, strengthens my faith, purifies my heart, empowers me, comforts me, and grants me wisdom & guidance to handle difficult or humanely impossible challenges.

How does prayer provide these benefits?

It's simple: when you consistently and sincerely speak with Your Father, who is the God of the universe, you become more like Him, just like children learn to become like their earthly fathers when they spend time with them, and they receive all they need from them when they ask.

I like how R.A.Torrey says it: "Prayer is the key that unlocks all the storehouses of God's infinite grace and mercy."

When we don’t pray often, we lose out on the incredible godly transformation that can happen in our lives, on the many blessings God is delighted to give us, and on the joy, peace, and clarity that comes from spending time with God.

You may be wondering, “I see that prayer is important, but how often should I pray?”

Pray every single day; make prayer your lifestyle. Pray for others, yourself, God’s church, those unsaved, those in pain, etc.

Are you unsure of how to pray, what to pray for, how often to pray, or would you like tips to generally improve your prayer life? Here are 5 keys to help:

1. Read God's word: Reading God's word and prayer is like breathing in and out. In reading the Bible, we breathe in God's word. In prayer we breathe out— we speak God's word. This does not mean our prayers should always involve reciting a scripture, instead it means our prayers should always be in line with God's word. The more we know God's word, the more aligned our prayers will be with God's will.

An excellent scripture to start with in learning how to pray according to God's will is Matthew 6:7-15. Here, Jesus provides an excellent template for our conversations with God.

2. Pray Daily and Continually: Set a time *every day* to pray, preferably somewhere free of distractions. In addition, look for free moments throughout your day when you can pray, e.g., on a bus, during lunch breaks, in the toilet, while waiting for a meeting to start, etc.

In the words of Corie Ten Boom, "Don't pray when you feel like it. Have a (regular) appointment with the Lord and keep it." (word in bracket mine)

Also, plan for periods where you can spend extended hours in prayer. For this, I aim for minimum of once a week. This gives you more time to pray and for God to share His thoughts with you.

3. Pray with faith: Believe that God hears you when you pray and that He will speak to you. James 1:6-7 NIV says:

But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

If you find yourself doubting if your prayers will be heard or answered, ask God to help you believe Him and study God's word more, because faith comes by continuous hearing of God's word.

4. Listen for God’s Voice: As you pray, listen for God’s voice in your heart and trust that He will speak to you. He may speak to you through:

— The Bible: by giving you understanding on a scripture, or showing you how a particular scripture applies to a situation in your life, etc.

— Your thoughts: giving you wise thoughts, insights, or direction concerning a situation that you know you ordinarily wouldn't have thought of.

— Your intuition: when you have a strong nudge on what to do or what not to do in a situation, or perhaps you sense something good or bad about a person, place or situation, though you can't explain it, etc.

Believe that God will speak to you. He has said, "the sheep (you and me) listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice." John 10:3-4

5. Pray with others and Pray for others: Join a prayer group in church or perhaps an online prayer community. You can also start periodic virtual or physical meet-ups with your friends to pray.

Also, pray for others. This is one of the key things that greatly improved my prayer life. Pray often for those struggling, those in pain, broken homes, prodigal children, those who have strayed from God, etc.

Most importantly, pray that more people believe in Jesus and receive Him as Lord and Saviour and that God uses you and other believers to actively participate in sharing the gospel with others.

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Would you like more insights to improve your prayer life, your Bible study, and generally your relationship with your heavenly Father? Read these:

1. 12 Simple Tips To Understand & Enjoy The Bible Better.

2. The Power of Intercessory Prayers. (How a Timely Prayer Saved a Life).

3. The Book That Changed My Life.

Still need more tips to improve your Prayer or Bible study? Let me know at: dipo.oasis@gmail.com

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