Prayer plays an essential part of our lives, often practiced at specific times but, more frequently, it becomes as natural as breathing—something done without much conscious effort.

Sometimes prayers are uttered with specified intentions.  Other times they just spontaneously flow from the depths of our hearts as the Holy Spirit leads us.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

Prayer is fellowshipping with the One Who know us from the inside out.  It is one vital way to know our Heavenly Father, Jesus our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit Who is resident in us.  It is an on-going, open line of communication with the One Who is readily accessible and available.  It is through prayer that we grow closer to Him, gaining insight into His thoughts and ways that are higher than ours.

We pray to constantly remind ourselves of Who He is.  Prayer heightens our awareness of His ever-present Presence in our midst.  When we think of His faithfulness, all other things around us become shadows in the light of Him. To acknowledge Him in all our ways and to be mindful of how watchful He is of us bring peace and assurance as we rest in His never-failing love.

We pray because we desire to have divine wisdom to know His will when faced with challenging situations that require major decisions.  We believe in His care for us and trust in His leading that when we hear Him speak or have a defined unction in our hearts, faith comes and the grace to obey is supplied.

Prayer can also be a place of expectation.  It is a posture of praise and worship when we are waiting for breakthrough to come forth.  His Word says in Isaiah 40:31 MSG, “But those who WAIT upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, they run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.”

 The Hebrew word for “wait” in the passage is “qavah”, and it actually means “intertwine” as in “twisting and binding.” It is the word mainly used in making a rope. The strand is bound with others, and they become unbreakable. When we get in sync with God, He ties up with us. When He pauses, we pause.  When He stops, we stop.  When He runs, we run. And when we who are intertwined with Him, who wait upon Him, who tie our lives up with His, we renew our strength.

Answers to our prayers vary.  They somehow look like traffic lights. 

I am certain that we all have a common experience when our prayers were answered immediately and positively, likening it to having a “GO” (GREEN) light.  His Word says that before we even asked Him, He already knew what we needed (Matthew 6:8) and certainly knew how He would respond.

Oh yes, I do pray for a parking space and every time I do, He always makes it a point that I have one reserved even on busy days.  I keep in mind of how “He busies Himself with our every step.” (Psalm 37:23 AMPC).  It is His promise and He Who promised is faithful to make it come to pass. His character is a “Promise-Keeper”, and I put my trust in Who He is.  Thank You, Jesus.

At times, we get a “STOP” (RED) light.  It may be that what we prayed for hinders His best plan for us, or maybe it is for our own protection.

Someone very close to my heart recently applied for a visit visa for a certain country.  Surprisingly, she got denied. Mind you, she had been to that country once, what then was the reason for refusal?  Hmmmm …. I told her, we put our trust in God Who loves us so.  He is our Omniscient Father, the all-knowing God, and we rejoice in His care for us.

A couple of weeks later, on the very dates she would have been in that country had she been granted a visa, she suddenly fell ill, was hospitalized and underwent surgery.  You and I know how difficult and expensive it is to be sick in a foreign country.  Praise the Lord for His divine intervention and protection over her. 

I had a “YIELD” (YELLOW) light experience at one point in time.  I just had the unction to “wait” and be intimately intertwined with Him to hear and know His heartbeat.  “What’s next, Papa?”

Romans 8:15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It’s adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike “What’s next, Papa?”

My cousins and I were invited to celebrate our Uncle’s 80^th birthday in the US.  Those who were willing to go with their provisions at hand, went ahead and booked their flights.  I, on the other hand, was praying for my airfare.  I only knew from deep within that I was supposed to go (by faith) and that eventually resulted in securing my flight after a few days. I just had peace and joy that wholly filled my heart as the umpire to my decision.

A few days later someone gave me a certain amount which was 23% of my fare, but later that same day, the Holy Spirit led me to sow the whole amount.  He prompted me to get an all-expenses paid trip for a couple.  Before my own thoughts and reasonings got in the way, I messaged them what the Lord had put in my heart.  And so, I was back to zero, yet my joy was unspeakable, full of glory.

There may be times when His answer to our need is just a fraction.  I say we ask Him, “What’s next, Papa?”  He may lead us to keep that fraction and wait for its completion.  But, in my case, He gave me that fraction to be a SEED TO SOW for a FULL HARVEST and was graced with JOY to do it. 

While waiting, I praised and worshipped.  I knew in my heart that when we are willing and obedient, we will eat the good of the land (Isaiah 1:19).  I knew that His Word will not come back to Him void, but it shall accomplish what He desires and fulfill the purpose for which it has been sent forth (Isaiah 55:11).

A week later, I got a call from a friend who gave me a cheque with the full amount of my airfare.  Hallelujah!  Praise the Lord!  Nothing indeed compares to the blessing of obedience that He graces us to do and how He makes all things beautiful in its time. 

When things like these happen, He fulfills our desires by blessing us to bless others in the process.  I was totally unaware that it was the couple’s 25^th Wedding Anniversary and they did not have the provision to celebrate. What a beautiful surprise the Lord had planned for them and having been a conduit to His plan is awesomely overwhelming.  Oh how He cares for us affectionately and cares about us watchfully (Psalm 55:22 AMPC).

Prayer deepens our relationship with the Lord our God Who knows all things, Who cares for us, Who is ever-mindful of us, Who watches over us, Who protects us, Who provides for us, Who deeply loves us and He lives in us, Christ in us, the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27). It delights Him for us to seek Him and His will.

Prayer fills our hearts with all peace and all joy in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, our Savior, our Lord, our King …. our ALL in ALL, and our knowledge of Him makes us more like Him as He lives His life in and through us, not by our might nor by our power, but by the Spirit of God.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank You, for always being in our midst, rejoicing over us with gladness, quieting us in Your love and rejoicing over us with singing.  Thank You for Your ever-open and welcoming arms to assure and comfort us, Your righteous right hand to lead us, Your Word as light unto our path and lamp upon our feet and Your still small voice to keep us in close proximity with You.  Thank You, Jesus, for dearly loving us and for being our Lord and Savior.   Thank You, Holy Spirit, for revealing to us what needs to be uncovered and walked out that we may be at the right place at the right time, doing the right thing with the right heart, with the right thoughts in our minds and right words coming out from our mouths to give glory, honor and praise to the Lord our God.  Amen!