"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).
If anyone has read my post on fear and anxiety, they would know I have struggled hard with anxiety, and fear, especially when it came to my children. I knew intellectually me worrying would not change a thing, but I could not seem to stop it. I would pray in desperation to God, without complete confidence He heard or cared about my prayers.
Tonight my daughter and the youth group traveled two and half hours to a concert. I knew we had a winter weather advisory, and my daughter text ed the driver could barely see, the snow was so bad. I prayed for the Lord to place a blanket of protection over them in Jesus Name. I posted a prayer request on here, then went on with my night in complete confidence and peace. I call this VICTORY. A year ago I would have been panicked the whole night. I would have text ed her many times checking on her.
Prayer has been a life long journey for me. As a child I prayed and talked to God all the time, I was so excited when I memorized The Lords Prayer (to this day it gives me great peace). By the time I was a teenager the only prayers I had were pleading prayers of relief from emotional pain. After I had children I begged God to protect them, heal them, and guide them. Still those prayers were out of desperation. I would thank God when everything was ok, then nothing more until the next crisis, panic attack, or disaster for the most part.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
My mother was a psychologist specializing in chemical dependency and dual diagnosis. The serenity prayer was very much a part of my life. I have always known I had issues with control I have prayed it many times, sometimes like a mindless mantra.
When I started my journey walking with the Lord I was surrounded by strong believers. Their prayers had so much power and authority. When they prayed over me I felt it. The prayers in the Bible studies or at church were beautiful, trusting, perfect (in my eyes) prayers. Those prayers were very effective also. I am so grateful for all those prayers. I believed the lie from the enemy, "those people are special, their prayers are so good God hears theirs and not yours, I am so bad at praying, I do not have the biblical knowledge, or wisdom to pray those prayers, I will make a fool of myself, everyone will know I do not know how to pray correctly" Thank You Jesus for not letting me stay there and continued to prod me along and guide me.
I began writing letters to the Lord. They are private so they became more open, and honest over time. As I write these letters I find The Lord answering them. Most of the time I am praying about dying to flesh, wisdom, peace protection for my family or understanding. Before my letter is done, there is always revelation, and gratitude. I can now write pages on how thankful I truly am for the Lord.
I began incorporating "training wheel prayers". A term I read somewhere. These are prayers written by someone else. A lot of the time these prayers will get tweaked by the Lord and they will become more personalized. I use these prayers especially when I am studying something like spiritual warfare, generational bondage, or healing. I am still uncomfortable sometimes with those topics. I also pray in my prayer language when not trusting myself.
"In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express" (Romans 8:26).
Public prayer, Is very difficult for me because of the enemy's lies. Now, I do it with a joyful heart and walk in obedience regardless of my feelings. If someone is in need of prayer I will always pray for them even if it as simple as "Lord I agree with them in prayer, or Lord Bless them according to Your will Thank You Jesus" Here is the Truth that is on my heart. All of these prayers that I find so powerful on this site, at church, by those that have prayed over me etc. the power and authority does not come from the special arrangement of words,
IT COMES FROM THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN
Now that I am fasting, I look back on my day and it is hard to see a time I am not in prayer or studying the Word. It is becoming so much a part of me, I am so grateful. I ask the Lord to teach me to pray all the time. I am pretty confident He is not critiquing my word choice, inflection, or grammar. I will continue to study about prayer, and other people's prayers, but filter all information through the Holy Spirit and The Bible.
Lord I ask You to teach us how to pray, to give us Your boldness, Your power and Your authority. Lord I thank You for hearing the humble, and the mighty prayers. I thank You for hearing everyone of our prayers. Thank You Jesus Christ
