Pray with confidence. Some people know how to do it. I\u2019ve listened in awe to prayers that lifted me into God\u2019s presence. But I\u2019ve never been a good public pray-er. I pray constantly. I just don\u2019t pray eloquently. Public prayers should be eloquent, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I struggle to keep my focus on the Lord due to overwhelming fear of what people will think of my feeble attempts to reach God. I wonder if a single prayer I\u2019ve offered in public ever rose above the ceiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u2019ve never been afraid to \u201cperform\u201d in public, not since my first piano recital in second grade. When I reached fifth grade, my piano teacher asked me not only to play but also sing a solo for the piano recital. (Where\u2019d she get the idea I could sing?) Soon the principal of our school asked me to sing for the students during lunch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During my teenage years I became involved in church music, singing in the choir and playing the piano for Sunday School assembly. After marrying into a new church, I became part of a ladies\u2019 trio, sang in the choir\u2014directing the group on occasion\u2014and played the piano and organ when needed. I never experienced \u201ccold feet,\u201d although playing the organ caused clammy hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My outgoing personality made public speaking a breeze. From book reports in high school and college to \u201chappy little talks\u201d I presented to church groups and civic clubs during my newspaper career, I rarely felt intimidated. But praying in public always triggered stage fright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
My personal praying wasn\u2019t much better. Most often it was desperate. Lord, help me! Lord, work this out! Oh, God, if You don\u2019t do it, there\u2019s no hope!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I longed for a prayer life that honored God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What would a prayer life that honored God look like?<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d talk with him when I wasn\u2019t in a panic. I\u2019d praise him in all circumstances. I\u2019d express my confident trust. I\u2019d communicate my love and devotion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Somewhere I heard a suggestion about praying Scripture because God loves to hear his Word prayed back to him. It\u2019s stated beautifully and covers every need. Scripture praying transformed my prayer life.<\/p>\n\n\n\nSomewhere I heard a suggestion about praying Scripture because God loves to hear his Word prayed back to him. It\u2019s stated beautifully and covers every need. Scripture praying transformed my prayer life. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n Renowned pastor Ron Dunn said, \u201cPrayer is the secret weapon of the kingdom of God. It is like a missile that can be fired toward any spot on earth, travel undetected at the speed of thought, and hit its target every time\u2026Whatever is a concern in the heart of man is a concern in the heart of God. Remember: If it\u2019s big enough to worry about, it\u2019s big enough to pray about\u201d (Don\u2019t Just Stand There, Pray<\/em> Something<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people say they don\u2019t like bothering God with \u201clittle things.\u201d Think about that. To God, isn\u2019t everything little?<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Bible is filled with wonderful promises concerning prayer. \u201c\u2026Men ought always to pray, and not to faint\u201d (Luke 18:1).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cCall unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not\u201d (Jer. 33:3).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son\u201d (John 14:13).<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us; And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him\u201d (1 John 5:14-15).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perhaps we feel anxious approaching God because we\u2019re so aware of our unworthiness before his holiness. Listen to Jeremiah 31:3. \u201c\u2026Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.\u201d Why should I fear talking with a Friend who feels that way about me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public\u2014and private\u2014prayer needn\u2019t be eloquent, only heartfelt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How do we pray with confidence? We talk with Jesus\u2014our best friend\u2014disclosing secrets of the heart, knowing he hears. We depend on him\u2014our only hope\u2014to respond in lavish love, according to his will.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do we pray with confidence? We talk with Jesus\u2014our best friend\u2014disclosing secrets of the heart, knowing he hears. We depend on him\u2014our only hope\u2014to respond in lavish love, according to his will. <\/a><\/span>Click To Tweet<\/a><\/span>\n\n\n\n Lord, I cast myself, all that I am and have, utterly on you. You\u2019re my all in all. I believe you have accepted my consecration. I\u2019m a mess, and I shall ever be\u2014unless you show yourself strong on my behalf. Teach me to live by faith, believing your divine life is flowing through me, keeping me, serving through me, glorifying yourself through me.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Has the Lord brought you through a circumstance that taught you to pray with confidence? Please leave a comment. And share this post with a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n *Scripture references from King James Version unless noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u00a9 Dianne Barker 2018 (reprinted)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pray with confidence. Some people know how to do it. I\u2019ve listened in awe to prayers that lifted me into God\u2019s presence. But I\u2019ve never been a good public pray-er. I pray constantly. I just don\u2019t pray eloquently. Public prayers should be eloquent, right? I struggle to keep my focus on the Lord due to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3],"tags":[688,9,687,689,479],"class_list":["post-1563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-change-your-life","tag-dianne-barker","tag-pray-about-everything","tag-pray-about-little-things","tag-praying-scripture"],"yoast_head":"\n