Have You Prayed About it?

In my grandparents home, there was a plaque near their door that said, “have you prayed about it?” You know that thing you’re worried about (job, child, bill that’s due, relationship, etc), have you “taken it to God?”

I think that we understand the gist of what that means, but I’m wondering how many of us actually go about doing it if we even do it at all? Sometimes, it can almost seem like a cliche or a figure of speech. We say “we’ll pray about it” when perhaps we really mean “I’ll think about it.” Nothing wrong with thinking about it and coming up with a logical solution, but somethings are just too important to leave our ability to figure it out. We really do need to pray. We really do need divine wisdom. James 1 says that if we lack wisdom, we should ask for it. I think too often, we pass on divine wisdom for our wisdom.

How to Pray

Sometimes I think we over spiritualize prayer when in reality it’s a conversation we are having with our heavenly father. The Bible says in Hebrews 4 that we can come boldly to His throne because we stand in the righteousness of Christ and not on the behavior of last week. I do think it’s important that when you start to pray about something, you first recognize who you’re talking to “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.” Focusing on who God is will break way to worship, which magnifies God and minimizes your need. From that place, faith swells in your heart and prayer is more effective. From a place of worship, just begin to open your heart and ask God for whatever it is that you want to ask Him for (wisdom, peace, direction, etc). Now what’s really important at this point is that you take the time to listen. Let God begin to speak to you. As He speaks to you, I would encourage you to write it down and perhaps share it with a friend (spouse if you have one). You can be an encouragement to each other this way.

So let’s end where we started. Have you prayed about it? Have you prayed about your school year? Have you prayed about the relationships God wants you to pursue? Have you prayed about that opportunity in front of you? Have you prayed about how God wants you to spend your time and money? Have you prayed about Gift Day? Don’t leave these important decisions up to your wisdom and logic, get divine wisdom.