Some of my most fulfilling times of fellowship with God have been conversational. I sit down, as if before a close friend, and speak to my Father. I can confidently call Him Father because I have received the Spirit of adoption, by which I cry, “Abba, Father.”
In these moments, I express my deep gratitude for all He has done and the ways He has been faithful to me. I share my thoughts and feelings about specific situations, the impact they’ve had or are having on me, and I ask for His grace and guidance, often praying with scriptures around relevant subject matters, to align my heart with His promises.
At the end of such sincere, heartfelt prayers, you often feel a sense of lightness. In those moments, you’ve cast your burdens onto Him, taking on His yoke, which is gentle and easy to bear. You find yourself renewed, strengthened, and ready to press on.
As you pray, something powerful unfolds, spiritual energy is released, and a dynamic force works within you, empowering you to move forward.
At other times, as instructed by Scripture, and in partnership without the Holy Spirit, I would speak directly to anything representing a mountain in my life. I would address it using relevant scriptures from the Bible.
(Mark 11:23)
Praying with Scriptures is essential. It’s like presenting your strong case before God, standing firmly on His promises. This approach also provides an added assurance that your prayers align with His will, deepening your faith as you pray.
For instance, don’t simply pray for healing from a specific illness, support your prayers with scriptures that declare God’s promises of healing.
Similarly, don’t just pray in tongues; truly pray in the Spirit. This means praying both in tongues and with understanding. (1 Corinthians 14:15).
In my view, praying in the Spirit involves being led by the Holy Spirit, whether that’s through the language of the Spirit or praying in your understanding. After you’ve built yourself up and edified your spirit by praying in tongues, put the power you’ve generated to work. Declare God’s promises and truths in your understanding as the Holy Spirit gives you utterance.
Our Perspective is Limited
For some, prayer has become challenging because, over time, they’ve experienced few or no answers to their prayers. As Scripture says in Proverbs 13:12, hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
I truly understand what it feels like to pray and feel unheard. However, we must remember that, as humans, our perspective is limited. We often pray based on what we think we need or want, shaped by our own understanding. Our vision is typically confined to a small piece of the bigger picture, while God sees the entirety of it.
1 Corinthians 13:9 says, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.”
But God sees not just tomorrow, but every day ahead. He knows exactly what you need and what aligns perfectly with His divine plan for your life. This is why, at times, it may feel like He isn’t answering your prayer. The truth is, God understands when what we’re asking for isn’t truly what we need, even if we think otherwise.
God’s No is for your Good
In such moments, as difficult and heartbreaking as it may seem, God, in His love and mercy, may choose not to grant that prayer. Sometimes, God’s “no” is a part of His greater plan to shape us and keep us aligned with His purpose.
Consider Paul’s experience in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9:
Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
In 2 Corinthians 12:7, Paul explains why God didn’t remove his “thorn in the flesh”:
He said: To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me, to keep me from becoming conceited.
As you study the Epistles, you begin to see the immense wisdom and knowledge entrusted to Paul. Considering his background, past life, and natural tendencies, it’s not hard to imagine that if he didn’t discipline himself, pride could have been an issue as can be with the vast majority of us, given the extraordinary revelations he received.
He said in 1 Corinthians 8:1, “…Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies.”
The thorn in his flesh, however painful it may have been, served a greater purpose. It was for his own good, to keep him humble and preserved in righteousness, lest, after preaching to others, he himself might become disqualified.
Meditative Declaration
Thank you, Father, for loving me with an everlasting love. I know, Lord, that You have thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give me a future and a hope. Therefore, I trust Your leading, knowing that both Your yes and Your no are working together for my good.
Key scriptures to study
Romans 8:15, Jeremiah 29:11, James 4:3, 2 Corinthians 12-14
Please take a moment to reflect on Jeremiah 29:8-14.
