We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better. We also pray that you will be strengthened with all his glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled with joy, always thanking the Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance that belongs to his people, who live in the light. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, 14 who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins. Colossians 1:9-14 NLT
Thinking about prayer can make us feel inadequate at times. There is no formula for prayer. At the core, it is having a humble and loving conversation with the One who knows you best, loves you most, and has the power and desire to do everything right. But we are human, and focusing can be difficult. Acrostics, while not a formula, can sometimes be helpful to keep us productively and satisfyingly focused.
P – PRAISE. Praise and gratitude automatically draw you close to the heart of God. All I need to do to get my praise flowing is to thank God for WHO He is, WHAT He has done, and WHY He has done it – not because I deserve it, but because He loves completely and is faithful. You can get as specific as you like.
R – REPENT. If any failure, attitude, or action comes to mind, repent (agree with God) quickly, and commit to making anything right that is needed. Then READ. The Word of God is always helpful. I never tire of the Gospels and the New Testament letters. Just reading the prayers there are instructive and helpful and I can pray them. Can anyone go wrong by praying Colossians 1:9-14 every day for themselves and their loved ones and leaders? Reading supplemental material may also be beneficial, but don’t forget God’s Word.
A – ASK. God invites us to ask Him for what we need. Talk to Him about the temporary things that are in your heart as well as the eternal ones. He cares about the big and the small. Jesus told us that if we as fallible humans know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will God our Father hear and answer us. He delights to do it.
Y – YIELD. Yielding yourself and your desires is an essential part of prayer. Even Jesus prayed, “Not what I want, but what You want.” Every prayer is a place to point ourselves in the direction of God’s perfect heart.
- This can be the most exciting adventure of my life. Prayer and fasting will take me deep into the heart of God. God, help me discipline myself to grab this anointed opportunity.