Why Don’t we PRAY?
Author: Lystra Wilson Lystra Aloha Lani Wilson-Founder of Women Inspire Women
Have you noticed the level of hopelessness in the world today? People are running to everything manufactured by man, in hopes to attain peace, happiness, pleasure, etc. But these things and practices only produce temporary results, at best. We are willing to talk to friends, strangers, therapists, and even pastors, but no one is willing to TALK TO GOD. Some churches even teach that we need to come to a man to confess our sins rather than going directly to God, which is not what the Bible teaches [1 John 1:9]. Why don’t people PRAY?? The Bible tells us that we should always pray [Luke 18:1] and never stop [1 Thessalonians 5:17] because when we do this we will find God working on our behalf, moving roadblocks, and answering our requests [Luke 18:7].
I have many prayer books on my shelf that have been given to me as thoughtful gifts over the years, and I love them! Such beautifully Inspired Prayers! I have often looked up prayers on particular topics and read those prayers aloud in my personal prayer time, or when I couldn’t seem to find the words to pray at a particular moment. I also have a book by John Eckhardt, Prayers That Rout Demons, I have used to pray specific prayers with others as we did battle in prayer together regarding specific demonic presence or principalities during our Journey of Soul Healing, to break strongholds from our lives, using words written by this Anointed Apostle in the Faith who has more experience in these areas of deliverance. This book has given us language for specific areas where we had limited understanding. There is certainly a place for pre-written prayers in our personal devotional time and for specific needs, but I disagree with using these written prayers in a corporate setting and/or during church service. Let me explain why.
As I stated above, I utilized my Prayer books when I couldn’t find the words to say, but as I grew in my relationship with God, through Prayer, reading the Word, and Worship, I no longer needed “someone else’s words” to speak to God in Prayer. I developed my own language in Prayer with my Savior. As I continued to show up, I began to recognize His Voice in that space, and I began to pray what the Holy Spirit LED ME to pray. This is where the true POWER comes in Prayer, especially in a corporate setting! When I’m praying by myself, The Lord leads me to Thank Him, Praise Him, pray specific things for myself and my family, make Declarations over myself and my circumstance, repent of things I have done wrong, and to intercede for others. When I pray in a corporate setting (like church service), the Lord leads me to some of those same places: thanksgiving, repentance, declarations, and requests. The manner of Prayer doesn’t usually change, BUT the amazing thing is…when I pray my own words (as He leads me), not reading from a book…He is giving me “fresh manna” at that moment, for those people, in real time. The words in that book, prayed from a sincere heart will certainly go forth to accomplish something, but those pre-written words cannot possibly cover the specific people and circumstances that are sitting in front of us at church, on that particular day. What does God want to do RIGHT NOW? What is He declaring over us RIGHT NOW? Whom does He want to heal or deliver RIGHT NOW? When we can close the Prayer book and open our ears to hear what the Holy Spirit is leading us to pray at that particular moment, in that setting, for those people, the Holy Spirit has an opportunity to penetrate the hearts and circumstances of each person receiving that Prayer. He will create a fresh canvas and paint a beautiful picture in Prayer, tailored for that precise moment in time, touching each heart and mind willing to be touched by God Almighty! That is not something that a prayer book can accomplish, which is why I do not agree with using it in a church service. Now, that does not make it obsolete by any means, but personally, I feel it keeps us in a box that the Holy Spirit wants to release us from. Maybe use the Prayer book as a jump-off point to Prayer, but then close it, listen to what the Spirit of God is saying, and come into agreement with Him in the words we SPEAK in OUR OWN heaven-crafted Prayers, following what we just read.
Guess what? The enemy is counting on us being so wrapped up in our circumstances that we are too confused to pray. He is hoping we will agree to speak ABOUT our difficult situation rather than AGAINST it. If we can stay in COMPLAINT rather than GRATITUDE and FAITH, he is winning, and he can keep us doing circles in our wilderness, just like the Israelites. He knows that if we begin speaking to God, instead of man, things will begin to change…WE will begin to change! His goal is to keep us LOUD in complaints, but SILENT in Prayer, because he knows that our words have POWER! Negative words increase Strongholds while positive words of Declaration, specifically speaking God’s Word (Scripture), bring Deliverance! [Proverbs 18:21] When we stay distant from God and do not pray for ourselves, we are cutting off His POWER flow into our lives. Of course, receiving prayer from someone Spiritually trustworthy is great. We should always seek prayer when we need that support, but we cannot neglect our own personal prayers. God has given US Authority over our own territory in the Kingdom! [Luke 10:19] OUR mouth is what rules OUR bodies, OUR families, and OUR environment. So when we refuse to speak the Word of God in Prayer, everything around us is lacking in Victory.
Some of us may feel inadequate in this area, not knowing the words to say, or how to approach God in prayer. Many times, because of a broken, lacking or abusive relationship with our earthly fathers, we may feel intimidated approaching our Heavenly Father. Rest assured that prayer is simply a conversation between us and God, and He loves us so much [John 3:16]. Just remember that a conversation is 2-way, so when you have finished pouring your heart out to Him, remember to sit quietly with journal and pen in hand, because He definitely wants to respond to YOU, personally. Write down whatever you hear in those quiet times with Jesus, date it, and keep it for future reference. It may be an important piece of your puzzle later. Prayer isn’t hard or a complex mystery, it simply requires us to open our mouths and talk to our Heavenly Father. He is a Good Father, He is in a good mood, and He always welcomes us with open arms. It is imperative that we PRAY…talk to GOD…open our mouths and PRAY the Word of God over our lives…Declare TRUTH over our circumstances and our families…PRAY…and when we have finished Praying…STAND FIRM [Ephesians 6:13]…then PRAY some more, knowing that God is working on our behalf to accomplish His Will in our lives and in His Kingdom!
Keep Praying
Lystra Aloha Lani Wilson was born and raised in beautiful Southern California. She has three adult children, and currently, one grandchild. She has been writing and editing since high school. She loves writing poetry, short stories, and Devotionals. She is also an avid reader.
Lystra is an Entrepreneur, starting her first small business at the young age of 12. It is her gift of Leadership and Organization that fuels her passion toward Kingdom Business Ownership and Management to this very day.
Lystra is an Ordained Minister and Anointed Teacher of the Word of God. She spends the majority of her time serving in Ministry and Preaching the Gospel! She has a Women’s Ministry, called Women Inspire Women, which is her current platform for Teaching and Inspiring people all over the world. She is also an Anointed Worshipper and Intercessor, singing and praying since before Kindergarten.
“It is my sincere desire to Inspire others, through my Ministries, to receive Healing, Deliverance, and to find the God-intended Purpose for their lives. I pray that each person I encounter leaves me in a better state than they came. God Bless you and your Families.”
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