God’s gift . . .

5 Points of Prayer

Prayer goes beyond making requests and waiting for results . . . It’s a very important discipline in the Christian faith, providing the connection for us to our Creator of this world and the Savior of our souls . . . Prayer should be infused into our hearts and souls, seeped and immersed into our very being . . . It should be a part of our daily lives and living.

“I pray that God, the source of hope,
will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him.
Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13

There are times when prayer is difficult, no matter how faithful you are to God or how strong your walk with the Lord is, but just keep pushing forward . . . through the sorrows, doubts, struggles, questions, and tears . . . You see, prayer is your lifeline to God
. . . Talk to Him . . . Walk with Him . . . Trust and know that you are not alone . . . God is listening!

The 5 Points of Prayer,
using the starfish, is created to help you
center on prayer in a different way.
Each point represents a focus of prayer.
The order that you visit doesn’t matter
The time spent on each doesn’t matter.
Each point is just as important as the others and
can be revisited as often as needed.

Hold tight to the relationship that prayer opens for your heart and soul . . . the relationship with you that God desires and welcomes with open arms . . . Come and walk with the Lord . . . and pray!

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying.
Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you
who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

INSIGHT with the INVITATION—TO TALK WITH GOD . . .

WAIT: Be Still

Most of us hate waiting for what we want . . . we don’t want to pause or delay . . . we want answers now! . . . We are not used to waiting . . . Society makes every attempt to make our lives easier and faster . . . but is it easier, because with that comes chaos, confusion, and a feeling of being out of control . . . Distractions will never give us the lasting peace we are seeking.

Fortunately, God works on a very different timetable . . . In His mind, nothing is wrong with waiting . . . God’s silence doesn’t mean He is absent . . . it just means it isn’t His timing . . . He is still there with us, just working in the background.

You can trust God is working on your behalf for your good . . . even if it doesn’t feel like it . . . even when it looks like nothing is happening . . . even when it looks like you’ve waited beyond patience . . . or there is no sign or clue in sight of what you’ve been waiting for . . . You need to remember that God pursues you . . . even in the routine of home and work life, and in the hopes and fears of life's challenges . . . He’s there!!

Be encouraged that those prayers you’ve been praying are being heard and were heard from the very first time . . . They were, and they are.

God uses waiting to change us . . . He wants us to learn how to follow Him and to put down our demanding self—to calm that screaming child inside . . . to learn to be still.

You have the choice . . . so take a deep breath, release your clenched hands, and let God be God.

Pray for guidance as you attempt to “Be Still” and “Wait” for the Lord

Imagine . . .

Unplugging and unwinding . . . turn off your cell phone, tv, social media, and more . . . Then, try to reconnect with yourself . . . deep breaths, slow down, take time, listen to your heart and soul . . . rest with Him.

Picture an eraser in your hand . . . That eraser is there to remind you that you have control of your time with God! . . . Imagine “erasing” one thing that you need to set aside, something you can “not do” just once . . . to make more room for God in your life
. . . Listen carefully . . . He will place something on your heart . . . Go ahead and “erase” it from your schedule, even if just for today . . . even the smallest step is progress.

As God speaks . . .

“In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.”
Psalm 5:3
~~~~~~
“Be still, and know that I am God .”
Psalm46:10
~~~~~~
“Rejoice in our confident hope.
Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.”
Romans 12:12

. . . be still

Do you struggle with waiting, not getting answers when you want them?

Are the distractions of life cluttering your ability to communicate with God?

How is your prayer life right now? . . . Is it where you want? ‍

WATCH: Open Your Eyes

God longs to be found by all of us . . . He loves every single one of His children . . . He’s not hiding . . . He wants us to find Him and He wants us to understand His ways.

Are you are honestly seeking God, watching for Him with your whole heart?

In today’s culture, countless distractions pull each of us away from truly seeking God . . . Gossip, church-drama, social media, the drama that unfolds via politics, family dysfunction . . . We get too focused on those things so take our eyes off of the One who truly matters!

Sometimes it’s hard to see God because pride gets in the way . . . When we give up our need to be in control or do things our way, we will find God has been with us all along, just waiting for our surrender to His love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness.

Watching for God, fully opening your eyes to Him with all your heart means to seek Him above everything else, regardless of what is going on in your life . . . It means to continue seeking Him, even when it doesn’t seem like He is there, or when your own troubles get in the way.

Scripture says that nature itself sings God’s praises and declares His glory . . . God’s presence is there, right in front of you if you just look . . . When you feel lost, step outside and spend some time in His creation . . . I guarantee He can be found there! . . . Just look beyond the chaos.

Pray for guidance as you “Open Your Eyes” and “Watch” for the Lord

Imagine . . .

Picture a fountain in front of your eyes . . . The water reflects light and color, washes away “dirt,” and makes things clean again . . . Watch the flow and visualize the cobwebs and clutter around you being washed away.

Imagine walking outside and gazing at the clouds . . . Let your mind wander, but your eyes focus on the beauty of creation around you . . . the sunshine, flowers, birds, water, etc. . . . when you feel overwhelmed, remember to look outward and watch for God in your life.

As God speaks . . .

“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
~~~~~~
“Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching.
Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation.”
1 Timothy 4:16a
~~~~~~
“You love him even though you have never seen him.
Though you do not see him now, you trust him . . .
The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
1 Peter 1:8-9

. . . open your eyes

What does it mean to you to watch for something?
. . . How do you watch for God?

Do you have faith that God is there, even when you can’t “see” Him directly?

Where have you seen God in your life today? . . . In your past?

LISTEN: Open Your Ears

Usually when we think of prayer we think about what we want to ask God . . . However, prayer is communication with God, not just to God . . . Prayer is also about listening . . . Good communication goes both ways . . . Not only talking to but also hearing from God . . . One word from Him may be the answer you have needed all along.

In the chaotic roar of the world, you may be trying to listen, but it can be very difficult to “hear” God . . . Good listening requires concentration and means we need to involve both our ears . . . We have to get quiet and alone to hear God . . . We can’t be listening to the outside world with one ear and God with the other.

God is listening to you all the time, no matter how you are communicating with Him, even when you think you aren’t succeeding . . . Even when prayers are a struggle, or you don’t know what to say to Him . . . He is listening.

Listening may be one of the hardest things we learn to do . . . but it is worth every ounce of effort . . . Learning to listen effectively means paying full attention . . . being willing to pause and slow down . . . eliminate distractions . . . and stop talking . . . Just take some time and attend to God’s whispers and Word.

Pray for guidance as you “Open Your Ears” and “Listen” for the Lord

Imagine . . .

Picture doing a mini-declutter . . . maybe a drawer, a small box of “stuff,” or old papers . . . The simple task of purging and throwing away “stuff’ you no longer need or use gives a satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

But what about your brain? . . . Have you “decluttered” your mind lately? . . . Have you purged things that get in the way of you listening to God . . . hearing His whispers to your heart and soul?

Remember holding a conch shell to your ear as a child? . . . You could “hear” the ocean . . . You focused on the sound you wanted to hear, and you could really “hear” it . . . Listening for God is learning to focus on the sound you want to hear in your heart . . . and that includes decluttering the chaotic world around you.

As God speaks . . .

“While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them,
and a voice from the cloud said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love;
with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!’”
Matthew 17:5
~~~~~~
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”
James 1:19
~~~~~~
“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand.’”
Matthew 15:10

. . . open your ears

When was the last time you allowed your heart to settle and
allowed the stillness of being alone sink in,
before you began seeking, talking, or listening to God?

Do you believe that you sincerely listen to God?

When and how do you “hear” God best?

LET GO: Open Your Heart

Opening your heart to new emotions, feelings, and awareness's, and letting go of control of your life to let God in can all be very difficult to do . . . Prayer places you in that position that says you need God in your life . . . You’re letting Him into your life . . . trusting Him to be with you, take care of you, and guide you on your journey.

It is critical to trust God as your guiding source and strength . . . Without prayer connecting you to Him, you lose the power and capability to live the life He has called you to live . . . Prayer also helps prevent slipping into the dangerous thinking that you can handle life without God . . . With each prayer you pray, you are affirming the faith within your heart and soul . . . confirming that you believe in God’s love, mercy, grace and forgiveness in your life . . . and it means that you are choosing to trust in God’s plan and His will for your life.

By letting go of control, and opening your heart to God, you get to know Him . . . God will help guide you past the harshness, shallowness, and clutter of your earthly life, opening the door to a new life, a new purpose, and a new sense of self in Christ . . .
It means washing your earthly worries away, day after day, and trusting Him to guide you . . . And when you put your faith in God, you know that no matter what happens, good or bad, He is watching over you and leading you to where you’re supposed to be in your life.

Pray for guidance as you “Let Go” and “Open Your Heart” to the Lord

Imagine . . .

Think about writing a “note” to yourself in a sandy spot or on a scrap of paper . . . A check-list of some things or someone that is blocking your focus on the Lord . . . holding you back from forward progress in your life.

As you talk to God in prayer, it’s time to “let go” . . . check something off that list . . . to forgive yourself, someone else . . . or maybe it’s time to move forward, to find a new perspective.

Now imagine wiping that away in the sand, or tear up that paper into tiny, unrecognizable pieces . . . Let it go, place it in God’s hands! . . . and remember that you can do this anytime!

As God speaks . . .

“We put our hope in the Lord. He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.”
Psalm 33:20-21
~~~~~~
“And endurance develops strength of character,
and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation . . .
For we know how dearly God loves us,
because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”
Romans 5:4-6a
~~~~~~
“Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;
I will put them into practice with all my heart.”
Psalm 119:34

. . . open your heart

Is it important for you to always be “in control” of everything? . . . Why?

Is there something you need to “let go” of, or someone you need to forgive
so that God can be the priority in your life?

Is it time to let God into your heart—
to see yourself through His eyes, as He sees you?

PRAISE: Lift Your Voice

Praise comes from recognizing and recounting the good acts of God of your life, in the lives of others, and in the world . . . When you praise God, your soul is reminded of God's goodness, His greatness, love, and power . . . which helps strengthen you and builds faith.

Praise and thankfulness come in many forms, and there is no right or wrong way to praise God . . . When you magnify God instead of your problems, you can see that He is greater than whatever you’re facing.

When you aren’t sure how to praise God, look up . . . Lift your eyes and look at the glory God has set in the heavens . . . Take a moment to look at the sky above you and consider what He has created . . . Whether you see His glory in a black sky littered with stars or a blue canvas spotted with clouds, it’s hard to look at the sky without remembering that God is greater and higher than we are . . . And thank Him for these, and all His creations.

You can also find praise and words of worship through Scripture, song, poetry, nature, laughter, and even tears . . . Praising God when you’re discouraged or worried silences doubts and replaces them with the truth that God does love and care for His people and you . . . Lift your voice . . . Raise your hands . . . Lift your eyes . . . Thank the Lord!

Pray for guidance as you “Lift Your Voice” and “Praise” the Lord

Imagine . . .

Reflect on these lyrics . . .

On Christ, the solid rock, I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand

Solid ground . . . When you believe in Christ, He is the foundation in your life that you can trust, depend upon, have faith in, and know mercy, forgiveness, grace, and love through.

Remember the cross . . . and thank God for the gift of His Son!

As God speaks . . .

“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
2 Corinthians 1:3
~~~~~~
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is by his great mercy that we have been born again,
because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead.
Now we live with great expectation.”
1 Peter 1:3
~~~~~~
“Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances,
for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17-18

. . . lift your voice

Have you thanked God for anything in your life today?
Close your eyes for a moment and picture a blessing from God that makes you smile?

What form of praise speaks to your heart and soul the loudest?

ILLUMINATION . . .

Pause for a moment and think about a precious memory, space, or prayerful place in your heart that helps you center yourself, calms you, and helps you shut out the world for a few moments . . . Slow your breathing, relax your shoulders, listen for the beat of your heart . . . now, as you rest for a few moments, read this story of the starfish about making a difference.

The Starfish Story

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy
picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean.
Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”

The youth replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean.
The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.”

“Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles
of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!”

After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish,
and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said . . .
“I made a difference for that one.”
. . . Loren Eisley

Are you willing to make a difference—for “that one”? . . . Be willing to make a difference through prayer—when you pray for yourself, for others, for the world.

“Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Ephesians 4:32

INSPIRATION—PRAYING THROUGH MUSIC . . .

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:34

I encourage you to take time to listen to any or all the songs below . . . there is no right or wrong style of music—it is what speaks to you . . . listen to the melody and the lyrics and feel the response of your heart to what God wants you to hear . . . and I do understand that music doesn’t speak to everyone . . . and that is okay too.

♪♬♪ Current . . . Waymaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNa6Iqem_fo&list=RDjNa6Iqem_fo&start_radio=1

♪♬♪ Praise & Worship . . . In Christ Alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1QjKqyGh8s&list=RDf1QjKqyGh8s&start_radio=1

♪♬♪ Traditional . . . Great is Thy Faithfulness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EbG5Ffqrmk&list=RD1EbG5Ffqrmk&start_radio=1

INTO EACH DAY AHEAD . . .

As you pray, carry these 5 phrases with you in your heart and soul . . .

WAIT~WATCH~LISTEN~LET GO~PRAISE

Remember, the 5 Points of Prayer, using the starfish, is created to help you center on prayer in a different way . . . Each point represents a focus of prayer . . . The order that you visit each doesn’t matter . . . The time spent on each doesn’t matter . . . Each point is just as important as the others and can be revisited as often as needed.

Heavenly Father,
Prepare our hearts each day to receive Your Word.
Silence every voice in us but Your own.
Help us wait, watch, listen, let go, and praise as we spend time with You.
In Christ’s name, Amen.

~ + ~ + ~ + ~ + + ~ + ~ + ~ + ~

Prayer Paths (written by Dr. Debbie Parcel)
is a weekly email letter designed to “fuel”
your active prayer life, help you stay engaged in
focused prayer, and encourage a
growing relationship with our Triune God.

To receive Prayer Paths by email each week—send a request,
with your name and email,
to BarnabasRoad2025@gmail.com

(Prayer Paths is offered through Barnabas Road Ministries)‍ ‍‍ ‍