Pray?

Do you ever contemplate prayer?

I think I’m a dreamer sort of person. I get caught up whimsical imaginings. I think deeply. I feel deeply.

I was watching the last episode of a movie series, which ended with a wedding. Beautiful bride. Feminine, lovely wedding dress. Happy, tearful parents. Loving groom. All the family and friends were there. They were all together – singing, dancing, and just displaying such a magnitude of rejoicing, I could have cried. The love, the joy, the reunion – the pure celebration – it made me think this is what a moment in heaven must look like.

(found on Pixabay.com)

That led to another thought. Will the actors and actresses portraying this beautiful scene experience heaven? Has anyone shared the ultimate Hope with them?

I have thought of this before. Actually, it burdens my heart a fair amount. I’m not one to get all into movie stars and their lives, but occasionally I watch interviews with the cast of my favorite movies/TV series (such as The Chronicles of Narnia movies). I think: Do they know truth? as I watch Anna Popplewell, Ben Barnes, and William Moseley bring to life such faith-filled movies like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian.

I ponder how the world, in general, obsesses over movie stars. They watch all their movies. Look up every interview. Know their favorite food. Cheer on their latest romance. Would give almost anything to meet this amazing star in person.

But do we care about their souls?

Do we see them as people who need Jesus just as we do?

Do we pray for them?

Or do we flippantly think they are just here to entertain us?

It seems to me as I watch people like Georgie Henley (Narnia films), Skandar Keynes (Narnia films), Erin Krakow (When Calls the Heart), Lily James (Cinderella), etc. in interviews – see them in candid shots – that they are nice people with much potential. That they are striving for something. Looking for something. They have emotional baggage, fears, and hurts. As I read interviews, they give a glimpse of their hearts, and that glimpse is often enough to show me that they’re empty and searching for something to fill them up. But perhaps scared to be filled up with the very best.

Most of them, if not all, don’t know God. They haven’t accepted the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

They are lost. And all we care about is how they bring us great movies.

So what could we do to reach out to them?

Well, why don’t we just say a prayer for them? Perhaps God will bring someone into their lives. Reveal Himself to them.

Truth is, God is in control. We cannot ruin or change or make His plan happen. Nothing surprises Him. Nothing unexpected happens in the Lord’s eyes. He is always on the throne.

But let’s love and care enough to think about people’s souls.

There’s something special about prayer that we can’t understand.

What people are searching for is God.

And the prayer of the righteous is powerful.

The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.

James 5:16

So don’t underestimate the power of prayer! How it reaches into the world. How it draws you closer to the Lord.

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I think we need to reevaluate our prayer lives. This is a battle. It’s time to be warriors.

***

What Can You Pray About?

• That God would draw you nearer to Himself
• That He would show you how to be a light to the world
• For that family situation that just seems like it couldn’t possibly resolve itself
• For a mentor to be brought into your life – to disciple you
• Your future
• Your future spouse
• A family member/friend who is wandering away from God
• Someone who is sick
• Peace and comfort for the hurting
• The sad-looking girl you saw at the mall
• Your church family
• For peace and strength in times of fear
• For healing
• For joy

So many things. And you know what, God sees them all. He cares.

⁶ I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.

Psalm 17:6

So pray.

Earnestly. Boldly. Expectantly. Faithfully. Sincerely. Humbly. Hopefully. Trustingly.

(found on Pixabay.com)

¹³ Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms.

James 5:13

²⁴ Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

Mark 11:24

But the prayer of the upright is His delight.

Proverbs 15:8

² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:2

¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.

Psalm 145:18

¹¹ If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:11

² Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Colossians 4:2

¹⁷ pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:17

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;

Psalm 46:10

Pour out your heart before God, and trust that He will answer you.

I know sometimes it’s really hard. One thing that helps me is praying aloud. Keeps my thoughts focused. Puts my heart into it. Also, go somewhere where it’s peaceful and quiet. I’ve been going on long walks. 🙂

But even then, sometimes it’s still hard to trust that God is really listening. That He will answer. So pray for deepened faith. Pray for it!

“Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Mark 9:24

My friends, a deep prayer life is a beautiful thing. Recently, things have been happening in life that have pushed me to spend more time in prayer and seeking God’s will. Those long walks of talking to God are so good! I’m learning to truly pour out my heart to Him – all my fear, worries, hopes, dreams, anxiety … Lay down all my idols before Him … Praise Him … Ask Him to continue making Jesus Christ my true Hope.

Sometimes the walk consists of me really wrestling in prayer, crying out to the Lord in the anxious state of my heart. Just being honest. Feeling raw and weak.

Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.

Psalm 4:1

Many times I find myself wallowing in fear, so I run outside and start my walk and my talking with God!

And guess what? At the end of those walks, there’s a peace I didn’t have before. Sometimes that peace goes away real fast … and then I have to start praying again. Giving it to God again.

(Something I’ve been reading about in Fearless: Building a Faith that Overcomes Your Fear by Cheri Fuller, actually!)

But the point is, these long talks with God have blessed me. I’m glad I started making a point to pray everyday. Otherwise, I don’t always get to it everyday – and what a loss!

¹² rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

Romans 12:12

I’ve been earnestly praying about things that have plagued my heart for years. Things that oftentimes in the days past, I’ve been tempted to give up on.

When I set aside a time for prayer, I can continually bring these things (hurts, burdens, hopes, desires, scars) before my Heavenly Father and just have this deeper assurance that He sees and He knows and He is faithful to answer me and work in my life and the lives of those around me.

¹⁴ Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵ And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

1 John 5:14-15

And I can praise Him! Remind myself of who He is. Wow. What an awesome, holy, good, mighty, faithful, loving God we serve!

Take time for prayer.

If you don’t know where to start, read and pray through some of the Psalms. I pray that you will be blessed, readers! ❤

¹¹ Seek the Lord and His strength;
Seek His face evermore!

1 Chronicles 16:11

⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

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