EFFECTIVE PRAYER-The Meeting of Friends

​Welcome to my new series of blog posts about becoming an Effective Prayer Warrior. If you want to step out of the mundane, to rise above the chaos of this world and society’s way of thinking, then that change starts with effective prayer. If you want to see changes, but feel they are beyond your abilities to make a difference, I want to direct you to what God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14--

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NKJV

This promise is just as truthful as it was back when it was first penned.
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Come along, and let’s take a little journey toward learning how to become a true Prayer Warrior so that you can make a difference in the Kingdom of God and the world we live in. 

For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God.
Saint Teresa of Avila

Photo by Rajesh Rajput on Unsplash

Consider the conversations we have on a daily basis...

• The awkward, stilted quick exchanges with associates or people met in passing.
• The instructional demands we might have with kids or a spouse when we give them our list of 'to-dos' and needs. 
• The guarded talks with a close acquaintance where we share a little bit of our heart, but not too much because nobody wants to make themselves too venerable. 
• The deep, soul-bearing discussions experienced with someone we completely trust, love, and are devoted to. The exchange is one of speaking and listening. As the friendship grows closer, the participants get to know each other on a deeper level, consoling and encouraging each other.

Which of these scenarios reflects your prayer life? Which of them do you wish reflected your prayer life? 

This is an important question to ask. Prayer is the strongest weapon that we have in this life.
We can use it casually, like talking to a stranger. 

We can sit down with our list of needs and demands and once we've had our say, we get on with our day.

Or perhaps we share our hearts, but not all of it.

Do you find that basically, your prayers guarded? One-sided? Shallow and repetitive? I want to help you find ways to change that. To dig deeper and learn how to become an effective prayer warrior. Not because I think that I’m some kind of scholarly expert on this topic, because I’m not. However, I’ve had years of experience and have found ways—usually learned the hard way— to walk out my Christian life. I’m hoping that by sharing what I’ve learned, I can help you detour the hard lessons. Maybe even help you to learn how to pray more effectively so that you can live your life to its fullest and to not only be a blessing to others but to God’s kingdom, as well. 

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”
Galatians 4:6 NKJV

Most of us feel we can be open and honest with our closest friends and families. God is looking for that same relationship with us. He wants us to speak to him like we would a best friend or parent. Maybe you didn't come from a kind or loving family. God desires for you to come to him even more. Those who are weary and heavy laden, come to me and I will give you rest, he says in his word. (Matthew 11:28)

Prayer doesn't have to be hard. Not at all. I want to encourage you to make time to go to your heavenly Father daily. I will be talking more about prayer in this series of posts on Effective Prayers. Return on Wednesdays when I’ll share little snippets of what I've learned, experienced, and seen come to pass, all because I bend my knees in prayer. 

Photo by Alex Woods on Unsplash

Next Wednesday, I’ll be sharing about why we should even bother with prayer.

There is a reason Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, and why he went out often to be alone so he could seek guidance and wisdom. If you feel that your life had grown stagnant, then join me on this Prayer Warrior’s Journey. As I’ve begun this walk, I’ve seen some amazing things in my life, in my husband’s life, and some amazing blessings and changes with my family and home situation. I’ll share more about all that soon.

Come along, let’s see where this path leads us…

Until next time
Blessings and peace to you.
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J. Castle