Power in Prayer

When the decade turned and we entered this new year of 2020, I didn’t really have any resolutions or big changes I wanted to make. To be honest, I feel like I was ending 2019 on a really blessed note, feeling happy with my life and everything in it. I didn’t want to change that or make life harder by imposing rigid resolutions upon myself! 


But alas, over this past week of the new year, the Spirit of God has spoken to my heart and urged me in one area that HE wants to change: my prayer life.


I will admit, despite saying simple prayers with my kids before bed each night , throwing up a shout of praise when life was going well, and occasionally crying out to God when I was feeling weary and needed an extra dose of His strength, my prayer life last year post-seminary was lukewarm at best.

I recently have the impression on my heart from God  to commit to a deeper prayer life this year, and that by doing so, I will witness a greater extent of His power and what He is able and willing to do in my life and the lives of those around me through prayer.


I feel Him nudging me to pray in my classroom in the mornings before the kids arrive and to watch how the atmosphere flourishes as a result. I feel Him urging me to fall on my knees as I pray about my families' finances and our desire for a new home and to witness Him move mountains on our behalf to provide more abundance than we could have imagined on our own. I feel Him calling me to pray for my husband and children and to watch His great favor cover them not only in this year but throughout the course of their lives.

And I also felt an urge to share these things God has been whispering on my heart with you. I hope that you too will desire a deeper prayerful relationship with the Lord this year, no matter where you're starting from.

But honestly, sometimes this concept of prayer can feel overwhelming. It's often hard to even know where to start. So I've been thinking on (and praying about- ha!) how to enhance my prayer life, and am sharing here five tips to help you and me experience new power through prayer in 2020!

​Five ways to enhance your prayer life in 2020

1. When you pray, expect for God to hear your prayers and respond abundantly.

In Philippians 4, Paul writes, "My God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." When we pray, we should remember that we are tapping into the greatest source of power and riches to ever exist. God is so much greater than we can comprehend and He is able to do more than we can ask or even think, because of who He is.

My favorite example of this is in God's answer to my prayer for a husband. It's no secret that I sought to be married and build a life with someone, so I prayed for a spouse. But never in a million years could I have imagined a spouse so perfect for me as the man that God put into my life, my now husband. It serves as a constant reminder in my daily life that God knows our needs even more than we do, and He seeks to bless us beyond what we can even imagine for ourselves. Remember that when you pray to Him.


2. Commit to reading his Word as you seek Him.

God gave us His word in Scripture and it is the most beautiful gift, along with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. It is often when we are studying His word in the Bible that we hear his response to our hearts' prayers.

I feel so blessed this year because the women's ministry at my church has committed to reading through the entire Bible this year together. We are using the YouVersion "Biblical Storyline" plan. It is incredible, as it guides you through the Bible as a narrative with rich, insightful videos and guidance. It isn't too late to start if you want to read through the Bible this year as well! Click here.

3. Pray authentically.

If you've ever heard someone pray at church or at an event and felt intimidated by the eloquence of their prayers, you are not alone. But it's important that we don't get caught up on crafting perfect prayers. The Bible tells us "People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7) and that we shouldn't pray just to be seen by others (Matthew 6:5). God already knows the depths of our souls and hearts, intricately and thoroughly. There's nothing within us that is hidden from Him, so we can pray to our Abba Father genuinely and authentically.


4. Pray whenever you can.

It is a wonderful practice to have a designated place and time for daily prayer, but that shouldn’t limit us from praying outside of that timeframe. Ultimately, believers should live in constant communion with Christ in prayer. We have been called to pray "without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:27). This means that whether we are driving to work, washing the dishes, hanging out with our kids at the playground, lifting weights at the gym, or getting ready to tuck in for the night, we can be yielding our hearts toward our Heavenly Father in prayer.

5. Pray about everything!

This is a big one for me. I've often been caught up on the asking for things in "His name" command, and it has, in the past, limited my prayer life. I was afraid to pray for things that I wanted if they didn't clearly depict God's righteousness and will. But God has been teaching me that we don't have to be hesitant in what we pray about because ultimately, He is sovereign and in control. The more we pray and spend time intentionally pursuing God, the more His good work is done within us, aligning our desires with His own. So pray about the little things, the selfish things, and the big, world-changing things too. Pray about it all. the Bible says we should be anxious for NOTHING, but pray about EVERYTHING (Philippians 4:6) - so whether the thing that is stressing you is seemingly a selfish desire or the most selfless and intercessory concern in the world, BRING IT TO GOD. He can handle all of our prayers, big and small.
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Happy Praying,
​and Happy New Year!