Talking with people from time to time about prayer, someone will make the comment that they just aren’t sure if they’re doing it right, that their prayers never make it past the ceiling. And for people who only pray occasionally, who only engage God when someone else moves them towards it, I can understand this. They do not pray, they have no expectation for prayer and they don’t understand one of the most fundamental elements of our faith. This is why discipleship is so important. People should never just be brought into the faith and left to flounder on their own. It is important that we walk alongside of them, guide them and instruct them.

We introduce them to Jesus by serving them as He would. We then teach them all about Him and what it means to walk with Him, being baptized into new life. And then we equip them to go and do likewise with others. We don’t dunk and run, we don’t cast infants out to the wolves to fend for themselves. We spend time with them, we fill them with the joyful knowledge of how to walk daily as Christ would and prayer is arguably the greatest element needed alongside the sincere study of the Word.

“Now it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” Luke 9:18 ESV
When we pray, we come with expectations. If we’re only expecting the ceiling to hear us, then we’re probably just speaking to the ceiling. Bt if we come with faith that The Lord of Creation hears us, and that Jesus Christ stands as mediator for us, the Spirit conveying our heart’s thoughts, then we can rest assured that no barrier on earth can hold back those prayers.

“And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:41-44 ESV
When we pray, we need to also come with the expectation that, not only am I being heard, but that God is going to move. Not like some cosmic genie, or vending machine, here to answer our most petty desires, but rather as a loving Father who cares for His child. Jesus was in agony in the garden, and even though He was getting ready to beat all of our sins within the next 24 hours, God still brought Him comfort in those moments, He strengthened Him for the task at hand.
When we come pray, sincerely seeking out God’s will, He will strengthen us for the task. When we pray, we should pray expecting that He will move, again not because of our will, but because our desire is aligned with His. ‘Father, help me to live Your will.’ more so than ‘Father, give me what my heart desires.’

And when we pray, we should expect that in everything, God is glorified.
““Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” John 12:27, 28 ESV

As Christians, we should desire just that, that God would be glorified in anything and everything we do. If our heart, mind and soul are focused on God being glorified, using these brief moments we have to lift up His Name, then by all means He will be. Day after day, we come to Him, expecting Him to hear us, to move and that He would be glorified.

Prayer isn’t some empty spiritual exercise in self delusion. It is the richness to every day. It is the constant conversation that takes place in love, hope and wisdom. It is the opportunity to listen to the One whose will holds your atoms together, and whose creativity poured into the elements that make you a unique individual apart from every other human being to ever exist. Prayer is our lifeline, our conduit to joy and our refuge for seeking out the paths of righteousness. So do not neglect it today. Live in prayer. Be confident in prayer. And teach someone else to pray as you GoLove.