​​“Thanks for calling customer service. Press 1 for billing, press 2 for … yada yada yada.” Some of my worst moments are when I lose my temper (ridiculous, I know) with the automated customer service robot and yell that “I just need to talk to someone real!”

It can be tough to get in touch with the people we want or with the people we need. We play phone tag. We catch each other at busy times. As connected as our modern world is, it is also impersonal and isolating in a lot of ways.

Stop and think about this for a minute because it’s truly unbelievable: You have immediate, direct, anytime access to the God of creation. A direct line. Speed Dial. 

There’s no assistant, no phone tag, no language barrier, no voicemail.

He’s ready to listen and hoping you’ll call. He’s not too busy. He’s not distracted. God isn’t annoyed by our requests, scared of our questions, or disappointed in our doubts. 

This is one of my favorite Scriptures: “Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help” (Hebrews 4:16). The verse before tells us that we can approach confidently because Jesus has gone before us and is compassionate and sympathetic to our temptations. 

Our world downplays—and sometimes mocks—the power of prayer, but the Bible is absolutely clear about the immense power of prayer. Matthew 7:7–8 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

God has repeatedly demonstrated the power of prayer when believers prayed for healing, victory, wisdom, and protection. Our verse today recounts how a woman was raised from the dead following Peter’s prayer (Acts 9:40). 

So, if there’s obvious power in prayer, why do we hesitate? 

Sometimes I’m silent because I don’t even know what I’m trying to ask. And that’s okay. God already knows our hearts. Romans 8:26 says, “the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings.” God isn’t awkward in the silence. When I’m lost for words, I keep it simple: God, be near. Help us. Give us discernment. Give us peace. Protect us.

Prayer used to feel intimidating to me—like there was a right way with cliche phrases that the church crowd knew. God isn’t looking for a polished public speaker. The power of prayer is in Him, not in any of us or in anything we do. Now I think of prayer more like a comfortable conversation with an intimate friend. I can shed the layers and speak freely without concern for gossip or judgment. It’s a safe space. 

Sometimes I’m worried that He’ll say no. And, you know what? Sometimes He does. Prayer isn’t a tool for us to make God a puppet. He is moved by our prayers, and He answers them—but not always exactly how we would have done it. (A tip from one of my dearest mentors: keep a journal of your prayers. You can look back, and you’ll be amazed at how God answered your requests, big and small.) Our prayers are always answered in accordance with His will, and that can be tricky to predict or see from our limited human perspective. But Jesus assures us that “nothing will be impossible” if we have “faith the size of a mustard seed” (Matthew 17:20).

Friends, come as you are. Let’s push ourselves to spend more time in prayer—speaking and listening—to see what mountains we can move. What a force we could be in this world if we fully unleashed the power God has given us through prayer. 

 

 

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Let’s start the New Year right by focusing on prayer! As we set new goals and routines, let’s commit to filling our time with prayer first! The Importance of Prayer will walk through how we pray with boldness and confidence and how we grow in our faith as we connect with God through prayer. We would love for you to join us!

 

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Sara Stevens

Sara Stevens

Sara is a West Texas girl. She delights in the daily chaos of raising and discipling her four young children. She is a physician, specializing in MRI imaging. Sara is an encouraging friend, intentional at developing authentic relationships. She has a heart for supporting women and families, and she is passionate about Bible translation.

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