The Power of Prayer

​Psalm 145 tells us the Lord is near to all
who call upon Him.

Jeremiah 29 says that when we call on God,
He will listen to us.

Psalm 55 says evening and morning, and noon
​I will pray, and He shall hear my voice.

Heather Bell

Praying is essential to Christian living. There are many ways that we can pray. We all have memorized prayers that we say word for word. Some people have specific morning prayers, meal prayers, and bedtime prayers. There are scriptural prayers, where we pray parts of the Bible back to God. Throughout the day, we lift spontaneous prayers for various situations. This is just a short list of prayer styles. 

When I attended youth group in the basement of our church, we were taught the ACTS prayer model. That looks like filling in the blanks for: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication. I continue to find it helpful in my everyday life to have this shape my prayers. In Matthew and Luke, Jesus instructs the disciples on the components of prayer.

Each Sunday at church, we recite The Lord’s Prayer. It’s a beautiful and meaningful practice. I find it comforting to hear the congregation praying in unison. There is power in praying these words of scripture. It keeps us in accord with God’s will.
So, my question to you is, “Have you ever customized The Lord’s Prayer to make it your personal version? This was an exercise that was given once in a Bible study program. Our son was young at the time, so I passed the assignment on to him as well. I will share his custom version of the Lord’s Prayer, and you will hear what was on his heart at that time in his life. 

Family Prayer
Thank you, God, for your forgiveness. Give us strength to face temptations. Help us to pick up the sword to protect the ones we love. We pray for the sick and the weary that they find peace under your wings. We ask that you envelop us with the love of Christ and help us to be more and more like you every day. Please send your angels to encamp around our house and protect us from all the evils of this world. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 
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​We used to recite our family prayer when he lived at home. I liked it so much that I sent it out in Christmas cards. The times we have remodeled our homes, I have written his words on subfloors and framing boards and staircases. We keep a copy in our kitchen by our family pictures. I hope Prentice carries the words of his prayer in his heart now that he’s a grown man. There is power in our prayers. Maybe you and your loved ones would like to spend some time writing out your personally customized version of The Lord’s Prayer. I think you will find this a meaningful exercise. God never gets tired of hearing our requests. He listens, and He cares. He responds to our prayers with his infinite wisdom and the ultimate best for our lives.

In His Name, Heather