I like to make the joke that the campus of the University of Toledo is basically my back
yard. I live with a few friends, and we live, quite literally, within walking distance of the
University of Toledo.
As a student at UT, I have loved this, because this has meant I can walk to school each day. When I am walking to school, I really enjoy praying for my day and all the things in it. I find it to be helpful to consider what I need and want to accomplish each day before I sit down at my desk. Something I’ve noticed recently, though, is that I often pray as if I am just thinking through things. I might say I am talking to God, but really I am just talking to myself.
I have found this to be hurtful to my time in prayer. Why? Because I end up forgetting
who I am praying to.
I end up forgetting that when I spend time in prayer, I am praying to the all-powerful God who made every star in the skies and knows them by name (Genesis 1:14-19, Psalm 147:4)!
I forget that my words are being said to the faithful God who keeps His promises (Deuteronomy 7:9).
I forget that I am in prayer with the God who loved me so much that He sent His only son to die for my sins on the cross (John 3:16).
I end up expecting less from God and trust Him less.
I end up repenting of sin on autopilot and pray for my friends and family without considering our need for God to answer my prayers.
We need intentional prayer. We must remember who we are spending time with when
we are in prayer. We need to remember that we are praying to the God who can do anything and everything, and there is power in coming before Him in prayer.
No matter the topic of our prayers, it is so important that we remember just who we are
praying to. Whether we are praying for the food we are about to eat or the salvation of our loved ones, we need to have reverence to the Father that loves us so much to bless us with prayer. It is only through God that we can do anything, and it is only from God that anything comes (Jeremiah 17:5-9, John 6:63, James 1:17; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11).
One of the ways I have enjoyed reminding myself of who I am praying to is to pray
through a Psalm. The Psalms frequently speak to God’s goodness, faithfulness, love, power, etc. They cry are messages crying out to God for help, and they frequently bring to light God’s desire for obedience. Bringing those passages into prayer helps orient my heart to spending time with God, and reminds me of why I am praying to God.
God is so good, and He has given us the gift of prayer because He loves us. Prayer is vital in our lives, and we can’t forget who we are praying to.
Psalms to pray through:
Psalm 51: Repentance of sins.
Psalm 103: Praising God for salvation.
Psalm 145: Praising God for His goodness.
Psalm 121: Praying for help from God
Psalm 119: Praying for love for God’s Word
Love,
Jess
