Good Morning Beautiful
Prayer life is not a one-size-fits-all. There are moments when I am ugly, crying before God. Then, there are times when it’s more like a conversation. Praying can appear daunting, especially if you are new at it, but I have learned that God focuses more on the posture of your heart.
Your heart’s position and condition matter because God uses the Holy Spirit to search our hearts. In exploring our hearts, the Holy Spirit can discern and help guide our prayers to be more aligned with the will of God.1 So, it’s okay if you struggle with finding the words; don’t let that stop you from communing with God.
Throughout the Bible, God provides examples of other people’s prayers, such as Hannah’s prayer (read 1 Samuel 2:1-10), Our Father’s Prayer ( read Matthew 6:9-13), and Jehoshaphat’s prayer ( read 2 Chronicles 20:3-15). So, trust and believe God will supply you with the tools you need to grow in a particular area of your life. All you must do is go to the source, which is the Bible.
God wants you to come to Him for all things–big and small. Praying is such a beautiful act of praise and worship. It’s a time when you can openly share your heart with God and experience a more profound sense of love and comfort.
Sincerely
Your Friend <3
A moment to reflect
And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.
2 Chronicles 20:3
There are many different types of prayers. For example, we pray to give thanks, or we pray to request or express a need for something. Other times, we pray because we are in distress and need help.
Jehoshaphat was one who was in distress. The surrounding nations around Jehoshaphat sought to destroy him out of jealousy, so much so that they joined together to overthrow him and his kingdom all because he charged the people of Judah to take heed and obey the Lord.2
Isn’t it crazy how when you make the decision to choose and serve God, that is when the enemy attacks? In Jehoshaphat’s case, it was all of the surrounding nations, so I can not sit here and tell you the exact number, but I can almost assume that the army coming against him must have been pretty large.
Jehoshaphat knew that this battle was spiritual warfare, and because of that, he didn’t act by rallying up his army. Instead, he instructed his people to go into fasting and prayer. Jehoshaphat encouraged his people to seek God.
In Matthew 7:7 it instructs us to “ask, seek, and knock.” We later learn that when we seek God,” we shall findeth” ( read Matthew 7:8). Jehoshaphat wanted to see God evident in his life, and he wanted God to fight for him during the battle. He did what the word of God instructs us all to do, and he sought after God by fasting and praying.
God already knows the warfare that we are up against, but he doesn’t want the fear of the war to stop you from knowing who He is. If anything, God uses these battles to reveal parts of himself to you. He wants you to know Him as:
The Names of God3
- El Shaddai (Lord God Almighty)
- El Elyon (The Most High God)
- Adonai (Lord, Master)
- Yahweh (Lord, Jehovah)
- Jehovah Nissi (The Lord My Banner)
- Jehovah-Raah (The Lord My Shepherd)
- Jehovah Rapha (The Lord That Heals)
- Jehovah Shammah (The Lord Is There)
- Jehovah Tsidkenu (The Lord Our Righteousness)
- Jehovah Mekoddishkem (The Lord Who Sanctifies You)
- El Olam (The Everlasting God)
- Elohim (God)
- Qanna (Jealous)
- Jehovah Jireh (The Lord Will Provide)
- Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Is Peace)
- Jehovah Sabaoth (The Lord of Hosts)
Jehoshaphat prayed a powerful prayer, and when he went to face the army, he faced them with praise and worship. He knew where God had already brought him from, and so in obedience, he faced his enemies with God on his side, and he won!
You may be someone who has newly accepted Jesus, or maybe you have been in the league for quite some time. However long, I want you to know that praying doesn’t have to be challenging. Rather, it’s a moment to know your commander-in-chief and know the strategic plans he has to help you win the war.
I encourage you not to give up your prayer of promise. God wants you to win in the end, but can you trust Him by surrendering the reigns so he can fight every enemy that stands against you?
Daily Challenge
I want you to read Jehoshaphat’s prayer, and in doing so, I want you to write a prayer regarding your current situation(s).
- Blue Letter Bible, “ David Guzik: Study Guide for Romans 8,” accessed September 1, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/romans/romans-8.cfm. ↩︎
- Blue Letter Bible, “ David Guzik: Study guide for 2 chronicles 20,” accessed September 1, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/2-chronicles/2-chronicles-20.cfm. ↩︎
- Blue Letter Bible, “O.T. Names of God-Study Resources,” accessed September 1, 2023, https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/misc/name_god.cfm. ↩︎
