Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT
You need a prayer strategy. It’s not a plan for escaping your life – it’s a plan for inviting God into it in new and greater ways. The underlying, most basic thought for your prayer strategy is that you are not convincing God to do anything. You are deliberately aligning yourself with His will and His plan – what He knows is best. This might be a start on a strategy to help you:
Step 1: Show Up. The most basic thing is committing to pray and following through. Some days you’ll want to pray and other days it will be a real struggle. Show up anyway. Start with sincere praise, and most of the time you will soon want to pray. Praise Him for who is and all He has done.
Step 2: Tell God what you need. Put it in His hands and leave it there. Too often my prayers (and probably yours as well) are me telling God the solution I think is best instead of just sharing my need and surrendering to His best. Truly trusting Him means letting Him change anything and everything.
Step 3: Ask God for the next step. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5 NLT
God loves to guide and help us. He never told us He would provide a script, but He did promise wisdom and direction as we ask. There is not a thing He can’t do.
Step 4: Obey fully and immediately. Whatever He tells you to do, do it. Obedience assures God’s blessing and presence with you. Do the next obedient thing.
Step 5: Remember the promises. Read God’s promises. The Bible is full of them. Don’t look for a promise to guarantee that the thing you want will happen. Find and stand on the promises that He will be with you no matter what and that His ways are best. Find promises about His faithfulness. Pray them, read them, post them.
Step 6: Persevere. Don’t give up. God will always come through in the very best way. Keep believing and praying. The right answer is on the way.
- The best prayer strategy always starts with showing up. Do it.