The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18 : “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”(NIV).
I believe it is really important to prioritize prayer. I always try to make sure I pray before I go to bed and I also pray randomly throughout the day. No one has to know you’re praying- in fact, the Bible says in Matthew 6:6 – “But when you pray go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” Prayers don’t have to be a certain length, and they don’t have to be about a specific thing. You can talk to God about anything you want and he will always be there, glad to listen.
One of the things I love about prayer is how it makes me feel. As soon as I start praying I just feel so much peace and comfort that I can’t get from anywhere else. In that moment I can feel all the weight being lifted off of me and I can forget about all the negative and stressful things that are going on around me. I can recognize the peace and tranquility that pours over me as the presence of the Lord and that is what keeps me coming back. I know that God is with me because I can feel Him.
I used to write a lot in a prayer journal. Every night I would write down my prayers and sometimes I like to go back and read through my journal and see prayers that were answered that I didn’t even realize were answered. It always reminds me of God’s faithfulness and that he is working even when we don’t see it or recognize it. One of my goals is to start writing in my journal again because I want the future version of myself to be able to look back on old prayers like I do now. This is definitely something I would recommend to anyone who is seeking to strengthen their faith in the Lord.
Remember- there are no rules to prayer and it’s not just for certain people. No matter who you are or what you’ve done, God will always be and has always been waiting for you with open arms.
