And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2 As we move away from prayers that are rote, prayers that are performances, prayers that are attempts to appease or change God and we move into a life of prayer in which we are broken and open hearted, something begins to happen. We begin to encounter God. We begin to experience conscious … [Read more...] about Renewing Our Minds as Prayer

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6 The word "righteousness" as it is used here refers primarily to a relationship with God. So, when Jesus pronounces blessing on those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, he is speaking of those who hunger and thirst for a relationship with God. Jesus was saying, "You will be blessed when you … [Read more...] about Being Filled as Prayer

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God. Matthew 5:3 We tend to come to God full of ourselves. Full of pride, full of a need to "get it right", full of a need to prove ourselves, full of self-reliance. But prayer is not about all we have done, or all we believe, or all the ways we work to prove ourselves. Prayer is coming to God empty of all of this. Prayer is … [Read more...] about Being Empty as Prayer

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. I John 4:16 The most important gift that anyone can ever give us is the gift of themselves. More than anything else, children need their parents to give themselves in love to them. They need their parents to breathe life into them. To see them and know them and guide them and care for them. To teach them and nurture … [Read more...] about Receiving God as Prayer

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26 Prayer is allowing God to radically change us. God is the One we speak to, listen to, worship, serve and rest with as we pray. Over time, in these encounters, God begins to change our heart. Our heart of stone is softened, broken open and … [Read more...] about Receiving a New Heart as Prayer

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27 Prayer is receiving the gift of peace from the One who is the Prince of Peace. Jesus offered his disciples the gift of peace just hours before he was arrested and crucified. His followers were about to experience the darkest days of their … [Read more...] about Receiving Peace as Prayer

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him...The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy, and good fruit, impartial and sincere. James 1:5, 3:17 We are invited by this text to ask God for wisdom. We are told that we will receive wisdom from … [Read more...] about Receiving Wisdom as Prayer

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:15-16 Prayer is receiving mercy and grace to help us in our time of … [Read more...] about Receiving Grace as Prayer

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17 This text reveals some remarkable truths about God. God is the Giver of every good and perfect gift. And God is the "Father of heavenly lights who does not change like shifting shadows." These images are powerful, beautiful, surprising, … [Read more...] about Receiving as Prayer

Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. Mark 2:3-4 Sometimes prayer is letting ourselves be carried by others. Sometimes we cannot pray. We may try to talk with God, or to listen … [Read more...] about Letting Ourselves Be Carried as Prayer