God knows what 2025 brings, and He gave me the focus I need for those challenges. So my word for 2025 is Prayer.
Does prayer have power? We turn to prayer because it is the most personal way to experience God, to encounter Him, and to grow in intimacy and knowledge of Him. As it is written in the book of Ephesians, God’s desire is for us to pray “on all occasions.”
How many purposes for prayer can you think of? There are prayers of praise, worship, thankfulness, and rejoicing. There are prayers of confession and repentance. There are prayers for personal needs, such as food, health, strength, wisdom, and forgiveness. There are prayers of intercession for the needs of others—for the salvation of unsaved loved ones, and for churches, schools, and missionaries.
When something in our lives or thoughts makes us anxious, we need to go to God and talk to Him about it. The lessons of trust God sends us are usually wrapped in difficulties, but their benefits far outweigh their cost. Well-developed trust brings many blessings, and God’s peace is a special gift!
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6
Many of us want to pray but feel unsure about what to say or where to start. One of our first prayers should be to ask to understand God’s will for the situation we’re praying about. Whether we’ve been praying for years or are new to prayer, here are some thoughts to guide us.
First of all, when we pray as believers in the gospel, we pray from a position of being forgiven, cleansed, and honored. We are always STANDING IN GRACE and ALREADY blessed with every spiritual blessing in Jesus. He is always pleased with us and always allows us to make choices. We can’t be separated from His love. These are just a few things about us that are permanent and important as we live our daily lives. Whether we are praying or playing, this is who we are, and who He is in us.
We desire to be kept from danger, but God does not guarantee this, whether we pray or not. In fact, He lets us know that “in this life you will have tribulation.” We don’t need to repent and confess about our wrongdoings each time—we simply say, “Thank you, God, that you have already forgiven me for ALL PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE SIN (MISTAKES).” And at the same time, thank Him that HE WILL WORK ALL things together for our good and His glory, EVEN OUR ‘WRONG DOING’, whatever it is.
As for when the ‘world closes in on us,’ we don’t have to slip away and find a quiet place; HE IS AS CLOSE AS THE MENTION OF HIS NAME. Why? Because He is in us!
We don’t have to strive to be a blessing to others; we can just choose to LET HIM live His life IN US, THROUGH US, FOR US, AND AS US! And let the ‘chips’ fall where they may.
We ARE STRONG IN THE LORD and THE STRENGTH OF HIS MIGHT! How much stronger do we need to be?
It is good if He leads us to pray for someone who is lost, but let Him originate that prayer.
Bottom line for me when I pray: I try to hear His voice ABOVE THE NOISE of my old performance-based flesh, and pray in faith that He has directed my prayer!
Don’t give up. Every prayer adds power. Pray without ceasing.
Praying without ceasing means maintaining a constant connection with God—essentially keeping our mind and heart turned toward Him throughout our day. It’s not necessarily praying aloud constantly, but integrating prayer into our thoughts and actions, allowing for a deeper relationship and reliance on God in all aspects of life. This concept is based on the idea that God is always present and available to hear our prayers, encouraging us to seek His guidance and support in every situation.
And remember: We stand tallest when we’re on our knees.
Let’s take a deep breath and begin each day by placing all our worries in God’s hands, trusting in His perfect timing. Remember, His plans for you are beautiful!
Have a truly blessed day.
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