A Prayer of Encouragement

Thank you for sharing!

Have you ever stopped to wonder why you pray? Perhaps you pray more when you are despondent or sad? Grappling with my own trials and valleys in life, I have discovered the central purpose of praying is to develop an amazing relationship with God, rather than a means for Him to meet my needs.

Ever noticed how a three year old values the friendship, fun and closeness with their granddad or grandma, more than expecting what their grandparent can do for them?

I wrote two prayer books Praying For My Future Husband and Becoming A Wife. At the time I had not met my fiancé whom I will marry in six months’ time. The most amazing part about praying is that it began as a place where I took all my efforts and puzzling questions to God, with my ideas and notions. Slightly frazzled and searching for hope. But God ended up transforming my outlook. The encouraging part is that 4 important steps were made, when my prayers turned from pleas to ones with purpose…

Prayer Changes our Hearts

When we least expect. When we have the slightest amount of faith. From my own prayer experience, I know God delights in hearing our prayers as He attentively listens to our inmost appeals and moulds our heart away from our situation but closer to His.

Not always is praying an outspoken act. Sometimes in the quiet of our hearts we can adjust our focus towards God communicating with Him continually where we feel His strength and sense His peace.

Prayer Changes Our Perspective

In the moments where like a trusted child, you talk to God like a father you love and trust, in an open and direct way.

There is no need for carefully planned speech. Just conversation that flows, no reason for eloquence, only unvarying establishment towards the beginning of your personal prayer life.

Prayer Changes Our Plans

When we open a two way exchange, this allows God to speak and answer us. In every minute of the day as we walk with God and hear Him, as He responds to our dialogue with Him.

If we pray moving forward in obedience and faith to His word and direction, any situation that we commit to God, He notices and pays careful attention to.

Prayer Changes Our Attitude

Have you considered the importance of being silent after you pray? If you rush off you will miss the careful attention that God so lovingly longs to embrace us in. Rest in God’s stillness and wait to sense His heartbeat. We receive energy. We become united. As our thoughts merge with God’s. Our actions with His. Our life plans with His will and way. Constantly praying for each situation we can encounter God’s encouragement and presence through prayer. In this silent place ask God to teach you how to pray.

Recently I wrote a six week series on the attitudes that Christ addressed as He mentored the disciples – How To Get an Unstoppable & Unbeaten Attitude That Makes Others Want What You Have 

The aim was to learn how we can exchange bad attitudes for more Christ like ones. In this series I realised that there is always something relevant that God can change in my own heart and perspective even though these lessons were taught in Jesus time.

Prayer to me is a relationship with God that exceeds words. Expressing how much I love God and He loves me. When our prayer life progresses, we learn how to snuggle in God’s arms, journey with Him and then travail as we intercede on behalf of others.

Will you dare to share the problems of others with God? Or share because you care not only about your own requests but of others too?

Maybe you struggling and in a situation. Left disappointed or betrayed. Turn the pages of the bible with me and discover countless promises from God to us. Meditate on these 7 promises below for you to pray and encourage your heart and soul.

Seven Promises From God As You Prayer For Encouragement

• Cast your burden on the Lord— He will support you (Psalm 55:22)
• Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:34)
• Pursue the Lord and his strength; seek his face always! (1 Chronicles 16:11)
• Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks.  Then the peace of God that exceeds all understanding will keep your hearts and minds safe in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)
• Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you. I give to you not as the world gives. Don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
• God is our refuge and strength, a help always near in times of great trouble. (Psalm 46:1)
• But the Lord is the one who is marching before you! He is the one who will be with you! He won’t let you down. He won’t abandon you. So don’t be afraid or scared! (Deut 1:8)

Poem of Encouragement:  Imagine Christ whispering these words of encouragement into whatever you are facing right now…

I hear you

I wrap my arms around you

I choose you

Amid the music, the busy traffic, the chaos

Sit next to Me

Hear the gentle rushing water and soft rustle of grass

Let go of your busyness and worry

Allow me to clear your shadows and doubts

The despair and self-contempt

The comparison and envy

The hurt and disappointment

Listen as I lead

Follow My timing, My trusting voice

As I place your foot on a foundation

The rock that never wavers

Leading you to new places

Guiding your path

A beacon and map

As I breathe words of hope and love

Wait in the place where I am

With expectancy, be mindful and alert 

To the possibilities as you recognise My voice

Feel your fears disappear in the light

In the stillness

Where my strength is 

For your overwhelmed and tired heart

To find My closeness, comfort and safety

As I draw you deeper to Me

Desire Me and long for more

Tune your heart to My voice

Believe My promises

The love that fans over you

You will never be alone

In weariness or grief

For I pick you up, hold you, draw you to Me

Leave your troubles with Me

Let My light shine through the darkness

Rise with Me

Trust Me

As I abundantly bath you with joy.

Our lives are burdened with endless transition. We can remain in a stand still as life revolves around us and the familiar becomes unfamiliar. God knows the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) In the times we pray and wish and daydream, we do this to change and grow. Wanting to become more of the person He made us to be. To turn us from aimless wanderers to reverent worshipers.

How do you change and embrace the anxieties life brings? In the same way God spoke to Joshua as He became the new leader, now faced with new horizons after Moses had died. Leaving him with a huge task to embrace, be encouraged as God spoke this to Joshua, so He is speaking this directly to you, No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (Joshua 1:5) 

Ava James

Ava James lives in the UK and is the author of Inspired by HIS words. Her passions are worship and dance. Not forgetting writing which includes reflection, self-development, travel, beauty and poetry. Gained from her life experiences. Her published non-fiction e-books range from leadership to grief. Follow her on Twitter for more!