Prayer, Faith, and Trusting God

The Importance of Prayer

Jesus taught us to pray in the New Testament. This was the prayer that our church congregation recited every Sunday morning by memory when I was growing up. Today, it still reminds me how I ought to pray, although I often forget.

Matthew 6:9-13, King James Version (KJV)

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

The Challenge to Pray

I am often too "busy" to pray at length, but I have been recently challenged to spend more time in prayer. I began a list of specific family, friends, projects, personal goals or needs, etc. to pray for during a time I set aside, either during a quiet devotional time or while I am walking. For anyone reading this, join me in this challenge, even if it is only 2-3 times a week at first.

How to Pray

Praying is simply talking to God, either verbally or in one's mind. It acknowledges a relationship with our Creator, and it exercises faith. I recited many prayers as a child during Sunday school or church, and I did believe in God, but it was not until I was 15 that I actually prayed a fervent prayer of faith.

This was a prayer that acknowledged my need for God to be with me, not just an idea but more of a daily source of trust and companionship with the Almighty God. It went something like this:

"God, if You are there, and you truly hear my prayer. I need You to be with me, to save me, and to help me."

The words of the psalm below often remind me of how I felt at one emotional low point:

Psalm 40:2, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) 

He brought me up from a desolate pit,
out of the muddy clay,
and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.

"Thank you, Lord, for the times when you have delivered me from trials or danger, sadness, or pain. Please continue to guide my steps, and keep me safe in Your presence."

Prayer Guidebook
Our prayers are more effective when we truly believe in the power of prayer, and we pray according to God's will, or biblically (not just for things we want).

I did an online search for prayer resources, and I found this helpful list of scripture references (see the Praying In Victory and Praying Scriptures links below) to use during prayer times, as a reminder of the promises we can claim in the presence of God.

Each page is categorized by need, and it is has been translated in a few other languages. Thank you, PrayingInVictory.com and PrayingScriptures.com for these online websites!

Psalm 145

"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13)

"Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, He gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

What the Lord Hates (Proverbs 6:16-19)

The book of Proverbs chapter 6 begins with "Warnings Against Folly," and verses 16-19 speak to the clamoring voices we see and hear daily on the TV or radio. This passage spoke to me this evening as I watched some of the political news coverage before having to turn it off. Heavenly Father, please heal our land.

There are six things the Lord hates,
seven that are detestable to him: 

haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.

2 Chronicles 7:11-22 ESV

Patient in Affliction

One of my favorite verses is Romans 12:12, "Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer". Today as I read it, I realized that "affliction" is the word I often overlook. Affliction is defined as a state of pain, trouble, or distress; misery. This condition is more common place than first realized. It may be a disease, or it may be a mental state. For the Christian, who is supposed to be living by faith, an "affliction" of some sort, can rob his or her spiritual joy, hope, faith, and ability to pray.

The Bible commands us to be patient in affliction. This is not to say that we deny a problem, we just recognize it and persevere through it. These problems may come in many forms, such as: doubt, fear, insecurity, lack of confidence, lack of faith, physical pain or illness, anxiety. These are examples of many types of affliction, and they are in contrast and conflict with God's plan for our lives.

In Hebrews 10, believers are encouraged to persevere..."Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful..." (22-23).


Paul faced hardships for the sake of the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 6..."as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance, in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love. . .sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything" (4-6, 10).


Even the Son of God, Jesus Christ, faced trials, ultimately crucifixion, offering himself up as the sacrificial Lamb for the sins of all mankind. It is not only human nature to have trials come our way, it is an inevitability since we are living in a sinful world. Our hope rests on our relationship with God through Jesus Christ, our advocate, who has gone to prepare a home for us in Heaven. This does not cause us to despair; rather, we seek God more, pray more, and act on our faith more, "for he who promised is faithful".

It seems that there is a great connection between our emotional, physical, and spiritual conditions. In 2 Peter 5:7-9, we are instructed:

"Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings."

In the good times and the bad, whether in joy or in affliction, we are called to be patient, alert, and to persevere. This is the model of Christ, and it is a command from Paul to the early church. "Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:11-12).