Tag Archives: praying

August 21, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Being Quiet

I’ve noticed that when people are nervous, there are those who get real quiet and those who ramble on. I find myself in the later group a lot of times. For me, talking helps me to figure out what I’m thinking and how I’m feeling. It helps me to sort out the problem, but it also keeps me from listening to good advice and can make others around me more nervous. I was once told, “You have two ears and one mouth. You need to listen twice as much as you speak.” That’s something I have to remind myself of quite often.

When it comes to prayer, I can find myself in the same boat. From the time we are young, we learn that prayer is talking to God. What we’re not taught is that it’s listening to God as well. I think God talks as much or more than we do, but we can’t hear Him over our own talking. Being quiet in the presence of the Lord requires discipline. You have to learn to shut down your mouth and your mind. The silence can be deafening at times, but it’s in those moments where we hear God the loudest.

Psalm 37:7 says, “Quiet your heart in his presence and pray; keep hope alive as you long for God to come through for you” (TPT). Many times there is a nervousness that God may not answer our greatest need. If you’re a talker, quiet your mouth. If you’re the quiet type, silence your mind. God doesn’t answer our prayers on our timetable. If we’re listening to what He says, and trust that what He does is always right and for our good, we can have hope in any situation. God is good all the time, and He sees beyond our most pressing need at the moment. Get quiet and still in His presence today, listen for His voice and give Him freedom to answer His way instead of yours.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word. 

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August 1, 2025 · 6:01 AM

Meaningful Prayer

Sometimes when people ask me what I do for a living I tell them, “I teach the younger generations how to talk to people.” With all the means of communication we have today, we’ve lost the art of talking. We’ve gone from having meaningful conversations to text acronyms with emojis. The problem is that many of us have done the same thing in our prayer life. We’ve gone from having meaningful conversations with God to short quick prayers when we need something. Just like with people, a lack of meaningful conversations results in a shallow relationship. The truth is that our prayer life is a reflection of how much we value spending time with God. I believe God is calling us back to meaningful prayer times where we grow our relationship with Him.

Here are some verses on meaningful prayers:

1. Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

Colossians 4:2 ESV

2. Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!

Matthew 26:41 NLT

3. Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life.

Philippians 4:6 TPT

4. First of all, then, I urge that petitions (specific requests), prayers, intercessions (prayers for others) and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all people.

1 Timothy 2:1 AMP

5. I am passionately in love with God because he listens to me. He hears my prayers and answers them. As long as I live I’ll keep praying to him, for he stoops down to listen to my heart’s cry.

Psalms 116:1-2 TPT

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.

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July 31, 2025 · 5:30 AM

Invest In Prayer

A few years ago I left corporate America to be self employed. My 401k money was sitting there and I needed to roll it into an IRA. I did it in January of 2020. They put everything into a money market account until I chose what funds to invest in. After a few weeks, I made my choices and moved the money into them. The next week the markets began crashing due to Covid. My money was shrinking at an alarming rate. I called my advisor in a panic wondering if I should put what was left into the money market. He reminded me that I was in it for the long haul. Then he encouraged me to keep investing even when times were bad. In fact, I’ll get the best return on my investment when I buy funds at their lowest.

Jesus was a person who invested. No, he didn’t invest in a stock market. He invested time in prayer. You’ll constantly read in the Gospels where Jesus withdrew to a quiet place to invest in prayer. Almost every time you read that statement, major miracles occurred. You can also read how on the night He was betrayed, He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. He was constantly making deposits in prayer. He understood that no matter what was going on in His life, He needed to be investing time in prayer. He didn’t panic or even look for some to blame. He looked for God’s presence instead.

Ephesians 6:18 says, “With all prayer and petition, pray [with specific requests] at all times [on every occasion and in every season] in the Spirit, and with this in view, stay alert with all perseverance and petition [interceding in prayer] for all God’s people” (AMP). It’s always a good time for us to invest in prayer. Nothing in your life will pay greater dividends than spending time in God’s presence. If you’re facing adversity, invest more time in prayer. If you want to do greater ministry, invest more time in prayer. If things are going well, invest in prayer. You will only receive dividends according to what and where you invest. Prayer is something that pays dividends now and throughout eternity.

Photo by Arina Krasnikova on Pexels.

Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word. 

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July 29, 2025 · 5:26 AM

Approaching Jesus

I love the story of the parents who had a child that was learning to play piano. They wanted him to love it so they took him to see a famous pianist in concert. Just before the concert began, the child slipped away. While they were looking for him, they heard “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star being played from the piano on the stage. They were mortified. As they scrambled to get to the stage, security officers and stage hands alike began to move towards him as well. Just then the maestro appeared and began playing the song with the child. He encouraged the kid to keep playing until the song finished. The audience was treated to the best version they’d ever heard of the song, and the kid was encouraged to keep learning piano.

In Matthew 19: Jesus was teaching a crowd and answering their questions about God’s Law. Just then a group of parents brought their children to Jesus to bless them and pray for them, but the disciples kept them away and reprimanded them. The disciples thought they were protecting Jesus’s time and dignity by keeping unimportant children away. However, Jesus replied, “Leave the children alone, and do not forbid them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (AMP). Jesus affirmed their value, though they were considered the least in society. He also made it clear that no one is to be held back from being able to approach Him.

Hebrews 4:16 says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most” (NLT). You may at times feel unworthy or too unimportant to take your requests to God, but approach Him anyway. Shame my try to tell you you’re unworthy to talk to Him, but go to Him in prayer anyway. Others may try to make you feel like you’re not enough, but Jesus bids you to come anyway. You can boldly go to His throne room where you will find grace, receive a blessing and be loved when you need it most. When you feel like you’re a nuisance, Jesus will see your value and come along side you to encourage you. Don’t let anyone or anything keep you from approaching Jesus,

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July 28, 2025 · 5:40 AM

Valuing Prayer

Years ago I did a research paper on D.L. Moody. One of the things that stood out to me was his emphasis on prayer. Ne believed that prayer is the key to a vibrant spiritual life. He also understood that prayer has the power to move both God and people. When I read that he often spent up to eight hours a day in prayer, I was challenged. Prayer wasn’t just an optional thing he did every now and again. It was critical, to his relationship with God and his ministry. His prayer life created a constant connection and conversation with God. It also was the power behind his ministry. He had found that behind every great move of God was a person, or group of people, who persevered in prayer.

In Daniel 6, we read the famous story of Daniel in the Lion’s Den that most of us learned as a kid. He had an excellent spirit about him, and as verse 4 puts it, he was faithful, responsible and trustworthy. When the other officials tricked the king into creating a law that no one could pray to anyone but the king, Daniel still went home to pray to God three times a day. He valued his prayer time with God more than his own life. When he was thrown into the lion’s den, God met him there and shut the mouths of the lions because of his faithfulness to God and prayer. The king then made a decree for the people of his nation to fear and honor God.

Colossians 4:2 says, “Be persistent and devoted to prayer, being alert and focused in your prayer life with an attitude of thanksgiving” (AMP). Imagine how much would change if we each had a persistent and devoted prayer life. Daniel and D.L. Moody were able to change their nation because of their attention to prayer. I’ve always taught that we have time for what we value, and I believe it’s time we as Christians returned to valuing prayer in our lives. If God is truly the most important relationship in our life, we will make time to converse with Him. The depth of our relationship with Him is in proportion to our prayer life. We must have focused, purposeful prayers if we want to grow spiritually, be effective in our work for Him and see another great move of God in our world.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.

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November 14, 2024 · 5:30 AM

Momentary Prayers

I’ve always had a heart for missions and missionaries. I love when they visit our church and share their stories. The church organization I grew up in would have missionaries return to The States every few years to share what they were doing with the sending churches and to raise more funds. They would pass out these business cards that usually had their picture on it and the words, “Pray for us.” I remember hearing several tell stories of when they were in certain situations and they could feel the prayers of someone on the other side of the world. I knew then how important it was to pray for missionaries and others whom God put on my heart. I decided at a young age to make it a point to pray for someone at the moment they asked or in the moment God brought them to mind.

Paul started off in 2 Corinthians 1 reminding Christians that when we go through painful times, God is right there with us giving us comfort. He does that so that we can come alongside others who are going through difficult times to bring comfort to them. He reminds us that he experienced a lot of suffering for Christ and therefore had lots of comfort to offer others. When we go through a season of difficult times, it’s often an opportunity for God to fill us up with empathy that others will need. It also shapes how we pray for someone. When we’ve gone through something painful or traumatic, it shapes how we pray and what we pray for. Those prayers are felt by those whom we pray for because they’re born out of the comfort we’ve received from God in our time of need.

In verse 11, Paul writes, “Because there are so many interceding for us, our deliverance will cause even more people to give thanks to God. What a gracious gift of mercy surrounds us because of your prayers!” (TPT) Your prayers surround others with gifts of mercy. Who has God laid on your heart to pray for? Don’t pass up the moment to pray for them or try to dismiss what God is asking you to do. Your prayers matter and have a powerful effect (James 5:16). Whether it’s a missionary in another country, a friend or family member, when God asks you to pray, do it. Just like there are moments when you need someone to be praying for you, others need you to pray for them. Sometimes it’s the difference between life and death. Don’t discount your prayers and the effect they can have.

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Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.

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January 23, 2024 · 5:51 AM

Desperately Seeking

A few years ago my wife and I were visiting San Antonio. One night we were walking down the River Walk looking at shops when we spotted a young girl around 5 years old. She was standing there crying as people walked by. We approached her and asked if she was lost. She said she was as we tried to calm her down. My wife told me to stand on something so I could watch the crowd. She knew there would be some desperate parents soon. Sure enough I saw them frantically looking through the crowd. I motioned at them and the fear turned into relief as they got to us and found their daughter. They were desperately seeking her once they realized she had gotten separated from them.

There’s a Greek word used in the New Testament for the kind of seeking those parents were doing. It’s Zeteo. This word was used when Jesus’ parents lost Him at 12 years old and had to travel back to Jerusalem to find Him (Luke 2:45). When Jesus told the story of the lost sheep and the shepherd left the 99, He used this word to describe the shepherd looking for his sheep ((Matthew 18:12). This word was used for Judas as he sought an opportunity to betray Jesus (Matthew 26:16). He was looking for the right opportunity to have Jesus handed over to be crucified. The word we have in English just says to seek, but the word used means you stop everything and make it your number one priority because you’re desperate.

Jesus used this same word in Matthew 7:7-8 when He said, “Ask and keep on asking and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking and you will find; knock and keep on knocking and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives, and he who keeps on seeking finds, and to him who keeps on knocking, it will be opened” (AMP). I don’t know what you’re seeking today, a healing, a job, a touch from God. Whatever it might be, desperately keep on asking God for it. Desperately seek Him for your answer like nothing else matters, and desperately knock on Heaven’s door until you receive your answer, find what you’re asking God for and the door of Heaven opens up to grant your request. Desperately seek God for it the way a parent would for their lost child. Don’t stop until you have what you need.

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July 5, 2023 · 5:37 AM

Bothering Jesus

I’m the type of person who doesn’t like to bother famous people. If I see them in public, I’ll usually make eye contact and nod instead of trying to go up to them because they get it all the time. Several years ago I was at a conference put on by a household name. You could pay $150 to get a professional photo with them, but I had already spent a ton on the conference, plus flight and hotel. They told us that if we couldn’t afford it, we could ask them for a photo when we saw this person walking around. Sure enough they happened to walk right past me with their entourage. I called out, “Could I get a quick photo with you?” They stopped, but didn’t turn around to face me. A person in the entourage said, “They’re a busy person who can’t be bothered. We can’t stop and take photos with anyone who asks. You should sign up for one.” I bit my tongue in that moment, but lost a lot of respect for them.

In Mark 10, Jesus and His disciples were sitting around talking. A group of parents noticed Him and thought that they would take their kids over to be blessed by the Messiah. As they approached, the disciples jumped up and stood in their way. They scolded the parents for bothering Jesus. Verse 14 says, “When Jesus saw what was happening, he was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children’” (NLT). It turns out He wasn’t bothered at all by these people who simply wanted to request a blessing.

I’m afraid that you and I feel like we’re bothering Jesus at times with our prayers or requests. We don’t take them to Him because He has enough people bothering Him. If that’s you, I want to remind you what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” The phrase “all of you” jumps out. Jesus is inviting you and me to come to Him with our problems and burdens. He’s not too busy for us, nor is He overwhelmed by everyone else. It’s time to quit thinking you’re a bother to Him and to quit carrying that heavy load. It’s not yours to carry. He has a burden for you that is light and easy to carry, but you must approach Him. You are not a bother. You are His child.

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July 4, 2023 · 5:38 AM

Partnering In Prayer

I’ve had friends reach out for prayer for things because they know I’ll agree with them in that moment. I’ve also had friends reach out and ask for prayer saying, “The last time you prayed, God answered.” I’ve seen people healed, loved ones come to the Lord, children get adopted and more. I’ve also seen my prayers feel like they’ve fallen flat without an answer. I’ve fasted and prayed and have seen God move in what seemed like an unmovable situation. I wish I knew why some prayers go unanswered while others seem to be answered right away. No matter what they outcome, I still make my requests known to God. I still partner with others in prayer.

In Mark 9, a father brought his child to the disciples for prayer. After praying for him in front of the crowd, nothing happened. Arguing began to break out over it. Jesus walked up and asked what was going on. They explained the situation and brought the boy to Jesus. The father asked Jesus to help the boy if He could. Jesus then said that anything was possible for those who believed. He then asked, if the father believed. The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!” (NLT) Jesus then brought relief to the boy and his father. When the disciples asked why they couldn’t do it, Jesus replied that some things happen only through prayer and fasting.

In Matthew 18:19-20 Jesus said, “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” There’s power in the prayer of agreement. There’s power in fasting. There’s power in your faith. If you’ve been seeking an answer to prayer, don’t just keep repeating it. Ask God to help your unbelief no matter how strong you feel your faith is. Spend some time fasting and praying over it. Most importantly, partner in prayer with other people of faith. I believe faith gets multiplied when we pray together and invite God’s presence into the room. I believe God answers prayer today. Whatever you have need of, don’t stop asking. Don’t stop seeking. Don’t stop knocking. The effectual, fervent prayer avails much.

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March 24, 2023 · 6:30 AM

Trusting God’s Promises

From the time we’re little, we learned to ask the question, “Do you promise?” Why do we do that when someone tells us something? Because we want to make sure they follow through on their word. When I was a kid, you had to cross your heart and hope to die or stick a needle in your eye if you didn’t keep it. These guarantees gave validity to the other person that you were going to keep your word no matter what. You learned at an early age that if you go back on a promise, then others won’t trust anything you say. When you broke a promise, you had to either find new friends or find a way to rebuild the trust you had lost. Making and trusting promises are a character building part of growing up.

Merriam Webster defines promise as, “A legally binding declaration that gives the person to whom it is made a right to expect or to claim the performance of a specified act.” When I think of that combined with the promises of God, it builds my faith. I have a right to expect God to do what He promised in the Bible. In fact, I’ve read that there are over 3,000 promises from God in the Bible, and many are made to me and you. If God promised something to you and I, we can know and trust that He will do it no matter what. He has never broken a promise and He’s not going to start breaking them now. Hold onto them, trust them and build your life on them because you can count on them.

Here are some Bible verses on trusting God’s promises.

1. But the humble of heart will inherit every promise and enjoy abundant peace.

Psalms 37:11 TPT

2. The believer replied, “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help. So don’t second-guess him; he might take you to task and show up your lies.”

Proverbs 30:5-6 MSG

3. Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever he promises. And because of Abraham’s faith, God counted him as righteous.

Romans 4:20-22 NLT

4. The words and promises of the LORD are pure words, Like silver refined in an earthen furnace, purified seven times.

PSALMS 12:6 AMP

5. Let your broken heart show your sorrow; tearing your clothes is not enough. Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind and full of mercy; he is patient and keeps his promise; he is always ready to forgive and not punish.

Joel 2:13 GNT

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