Just like many of you, I start the new year fresh with excitement of all that lies ahead, all the new people I will meet, places I will go, and new foods I will try. As I start a running list of all that I want to change and accomplish in the coming year, I ask the Lord to give me a theme, a word, and a scripture to direct my focus. It’s not just churchy things; I contemplate changes to my workout routine, water consumption, skincare regimen, people I want to dedicate more time to. You name it, I review it. This year is no exception. Yet the word God is giving me, and the theme He wants me to focus on isn’t what I expected. Instead of learning a new skill or volunteering more when we are empty nesters this fall, I am hearing Him say PRAY. He is asking me for a fresh, new routine around prayer.

I’m a disciplined person. I get up the same time each morning, and have my first (and second) cup of coffee while reading scripture, journaling, or praying. Yet, if I’m honest, speaking to God, sharing my heart, and taking the time to sit quietly to listen for His response have occurred less and less. Yes, I can blame busyness. I can point to four projects that consumed more of me and my time over the past quarter than I intended or imagined. Many of you heard the stress in my voice, saw far less of me than I desired, and knew I was at max capacity mentally and physically. I thank you for the love and encouragement you sent through calls and texts. Yet, I didn’t recognize until I was a puddle of tears in December that I was depleting myself spiritually, too.

Why as humans do we let the good habits slip away? I have a prayer journal that I prayed daily, multiple months of last year, marking down when those prayers were answered, and adding dates of new requests. There was a daily devotional that I listened to for the first 10 minutes when I got into the car. It is centering and wonderful. I was in the habit of talking to God as I cooked, as I went about my day, giving praise and gratitude to Him as I saw it. I also enjoy praying aloud for people, placing my hand on them and speaking whatever comes to mind. Yet somehow, in my small groups and even in my family, I’ve been asking others to pray instead. How did I do these things for days on end, month after month, and then the habits slowly slipped away? I want it all back!

For goodness sake, God promises to answer prayers (Isaiah 65:24), and I’ve seen (and recorded) answered prayer!

In the process of looking forward, I recognize how this slow drain occurred. Just like taking a step back and realizing you haven’t seen a good friend in a long time, I hadn’t prioritized Him (Mark 1:35). I apologized to God that I had sidestepped much of our relationship. Then, I asked the Holy Spirit to come and refuel these areas in me (Romans 15:13), allowing me to automatically react in prayer and gratitude. When we align our prayers with God’s will, we know He is listening and will respond, but not necessarily respond how we want (1 John 5:14-15).

As I talked about exploring prayer this year, friends shared ideas about “Paste” lists, the names you pray for as you brush your teeth, and praying aloud over rooms in your house, claiming the space for God to do His good work and removing any negative spirits. I was also reminded that worship through song is another form of expressing our love to the Lord. I’ve been playing on repeat a wonderful song my church has been singing, the lyrics go like this:

“We’re on the edge of a new beginning. God, we know You have so much more. We’re looking to a new horizon. We’re praying for Your rain to pour.An overflowing of true redemption. An overflowing of Your kingdom. We’re ready for a real revival. O Holy Spirit come.Like a flood. Like a fire. Holy Spirit fall in this place, Fill our hearts. Holy Spirit come.”*

Christian worship music resonates with many of us because it puts into words what our heart is yearning for. The peppy tune gets caught in our head and we find ourselves humming, whistling, and singing it throughout the day. Just like this short psalm that invites us to joyfully enter into God’s presence:

^“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before Him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture, enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations”. Psalm 100

Prayer opens our souls to Him. It involves forgiveness and humility, and results in closeness and a personal relationship.

To ensure I fully understood the lesson God was teaching, He spoke a few more words. It was mid-month, and I stayed after church service for one-on-one prayer. The prayer lady shared that God has things to tell me. He is doling it out slowly to create intimacy with me, and the giftings He gave me are for me to share with others, so “Get on it!”

God gave me the word pray, not just for me, but for me to spread to others. How cool is that!

Those words, “Get On It,” have been ringing in my ears for weeks now. God sees me. God hears me. He wants to use me for others. As I sit in this understanding, I’m humbled. What a privilege it is that I get to communicate with the Master of the Universe, the Creator of everything that I interact with daily. Not only does He share His wisdom and desires when I sit and listen, but He wants to use me as a vessel to help others – do what? I’m not sure yet. But I will be waiting for it – praying earnestly, expectantly and excitedly, just like those in the early church (Acts 12), and I will write down how He uses me, so the next time my humanness pulls me away, hopefully I will return sooner. I now realize He uses prayer as communication between Him and me, and me to His flock. 

Are you encouraged to revamp your prayer life alongside me? Relationships take time. They take intentionality and vulnerability. They can get messy, even with God. As I’ve gone deeper in prayer with God, I’ve felt invigorated as well as worn out. And as I review the prayers He has answered, and decipher the dreams He is giving me, I am drawn closer to the Lord with my heart’s desire to go deeper and deeper. I cannot wait to share all He teaches and reveals.

Not surprisingly, the verse He led me to is “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Please pray with me:  

Lord, thank You for being a God who desires personal relationships with us. I’m sorry that we make You patiently wait as we foolishly get distracted, misguided or just plain lazy. Keep pursuing us, and as we listen, show us deep and deeper understanding of what You are asking of each of us. I am Yours, Daddy. Please hold me close, and if I begin to stray, please have the Holy Spirit nudge and pull me back to You. Ignite each of our souls to desire more intimacy with You. Amen.

*Listen Here: Holy Spirit Come, by Patrick Mayberry