Ready:
“Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” – Matthew 6:9-10
Set:
When I started coaching youth basketball, I did not realize all the levels of communication that were necessary for the team to function. I was quickly overwhelmed with parent text messages, school administrator text messages, tournament emails, not to mention communicating with all my athletes in and out of practice. It was a lot but without all the communication people would not be where they needed to be when they needed to be there, and we would be out in the cold with no place to practice.
Communication is another essential part of our relationship with God. It is necessary to deepen a relationship with someone we love. We make it a priority to talk to our family, friends and athletes. We must make time to talk with Jesus as well if we are to grow in our relationship with Him.
Here are some things to remember about prayer:
- Prayer Is a Conversation – Prayer is a conversation between you and God. You can talk to God anywhere and at anytime. It’s not so much about what you say, it’s about sharing your heart with God.
- Prayer is About Anything and Everything – Prayer is an active conversation of listening and speaking, but what should we pray about? When Jesus taught believers how to pray, He taught them to pray for everything and everyone so that God’s will and work will be done on Earth (see Matthew 6:9-13 for His personal version). Simply, we are to pray about anything and everything!
- Prayer Accomplishes God’s Plans – The purpose of prayer is not only to ask for what you want, but it’s also to get what God wants. Jesus represented this purpose in the Lord’s Prayer, where we pray for God’s Kingdom to come and for His will to be done on Earth. We are encouraged to pray for God’s plan to succeed in every situation whether it’s in our lives or in the lives of others.
Talking with God is not a one-sided conversation. When you take the time to really communicate with God, God will speak to you through His Word and the Holy Spirit. Keep the line open with Him and He will respond to You!
Go:
- What do you pray for?
- How can you pray better?
Workout:
- Ephesians 6:18-19
- 1 John 1:9
Overtime:
“Lord, help me to be open and honest with You when we talk. I want You to transform my life so that my purpose and life fulfill Your will. Help me to know how to praise, ask, and confess things to You. Thank You for listening to my heart. I love You.”