We Pray When In Trouble - But How Real Is Prayer To You?

What are you praying about right now?

HOW REAL IS PRAYER TO YOU

Some people never pray. Some pray at the drop of a hat, but I wonder sometimes how real their prayer really is. How real is prayer to you?

When you pray, do you really believe God is there, that He hears you, and that something is actually happening? BTW, yes, the photo has nothing to do with praying. I just like to share photos of Wendy.

So today, my schedule reading says:

“Do not worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God’s peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NCV)

Paul wrote this while he was a prisoner. He certainly had things to worry about - he was in prison. Yet he says, essentially, don’t let worry control you—pray. Ask God for what you need and trust Him with it.

The original Greek word translated “worry” is merimnaō. It describes being anxious, troubled, even pulled in different directions by your cares and worries. So many live with anxiety, anger and unforgiveness. Paul says when that happens, take those worries somewhere. Take them to God.

A NEW WAY TO PRAY

Here’s what helps me.

When I pray, I visualize God in heaven. I’m not sure what His face looks like, and I tend to think of heaven as above me, but I picture God actually there and actually listening. I picture Jesus Christ as my High Priest, interceding for me before God. I think about the Holy Spirit helping me pray, because Scripture says the Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes for us.

I picture God looking down at me and at the person I’m praying for. I know I don’t understand exactly how all of this works or what heaven looks like. Visualizing it simply makes the reality of prayer more real to me.

God is real. God hears me. Jesus is my intercessor. The Holy Spirit is helping me. But there’s something else I have to believe when I pray: God loves me.

HOW WILL GOD RESPOND TO YOUR PRAYER

Think about it. God loved you enough to give His Son to save your soul. If you’ve trusted Jesus Christ and what He did for you on the cross, why would you believe that same God suddenly doesn’t care about what you’re going through?

He listens. He answers. But His answer may not be the answer I’m asking for.

That’s where trust comes in. Prayer isn’t telling God what He has to do. Prayer is telling God what I need, what I want, what I’m afraid of—and then trusting that the God who loved me enough to give His Son for me knows what is best for me. Easy to say, not so easy to live out.

Sometimes His answer may be yes. Sometimes no. Sometimes wait. And sometimes He may answer in a way I never expected. But I do trust Him.

HERE’S REALITY

Let’s be real. Wendy has a brain tumor and the symptoms are growing. Leukemia could return for me any day. I have people I love going side-ways, and they keep going side-ways. I have some broken relationships. I have a total knee replacement coming up in December. I have may friends and people we counsel struggling. I have plenty to pray about.

But I try not to panic, and instead - pray. And after I pray, I need to believe my prayer was heard and trust God with what happens next.

Paul says God’s peace will “keep” our hearts and minds. The Greek word means to guard, like a soldier standing guard. The circumstances may not have changed yet, but something in me changes because I’ve placed what I cannot control into the hands of the God who loves me - and controls everything.

CONCLUSION

So what are you praying about today?

Tell God exactly what you want. Ask Him for what you need. Then trust Him enough to let Him decide the answer. Trust me, He’s on your side and hears you.

GOD, help me believe my prayers are heard. Help me remember how much You love me, trust Your answer even when it isn’t the answer I wanted, and give You what I cannot control. IJNIP amen ♥️

(She may have a brain tumor, but she keeps pushing - our recent trip to London)