God’s gift . . .
Praying Through Life – Not AT It
“Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart!
Do not be afraid or lose faith.
For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.”
Joshua 1:9
We pray to build a close relationship with God, find peace in hard times, and ask for guidance . . . Prayer helps each of us show gratitude for our blessings . . . We can seek forgiveness for ourselves and the help to forgive others . . . Prayer lets us talk and listen to God so that we know Him better, encouraging closeness . . . It brings us peace by creating a communication link with God, that allows us to share our worries, lowering stress and exchanging anxiety for calm . . . Through prayer we can seek guidance by asking God’s help in finding clear answers for tough choices . . . Quiet time with God renews our strength when we feel weak . . . and through prayer, we can share God’s love with others by praying for friends and family in need.
Prayer is an act of faith, and our hope shapes what we expect as the outcome from God . . . The hope that springs from faith has much stronger expectations than the simple desire of “I hope it doesn’t rain,” or “I hope I don’t get sick,” . . . With faith and hope in God, we lean into His direction and guidance, trust in Him, and have confidence in Him.
“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.
But the greatest of these is love.”
1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith keeps our heart steady when the path feels unclear . . . Hope reminds us that God is still working, even when we can’t see what He’s doing . . . And love reflects His heart in every word, choice, and act of kindness . . . So, we are to let faith be our guide, hope lift us up and energize us, and love lead the way.
Remember, a little faith is all that is required to pray . . . We don’t have to wait until we become giants in faith, and we don’t even need great faith to make large requests . . . Jesus promised that if we have faith as small as a mustard seed, nothing will be impossible for you (Matthew 17:20).
Don’t let questions, fears, or even doubts keep you from approaching God in prayer . . . we should be honest about our struggles, and if we don’t know what to say then start with, “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief” . . . And do not let the size of your request intimidate you . . . The answer to your prayer depends upon God, and He is always greater than our requests.
And don’t be afraid to trust God’s timing as you wait for an answer . . . Even if our requests are identical to those of others, He won’t always answer in the same way . . . His answers will be personal, specifically suited to your needs and His plan for you . . . Just keep moving forward in prayer.
The key to faith and prayer is to begin with the faith that we have, even if it is only the size of a mustard seed . . . And anchor our hope to Christ’s promise that even the smallest grain of faith is enough to change the shape of the world around us.
“Continue in prayer. You must keep praying.
Keep watching! Be thankful always.”
Colossians 4:2
The scripture is not just telling us to pray casually . . . it’s actually encouraging us to persist—even when it’s tough . . . Even when we face resistance—whether it’s tiredness, distractions, or feeling overwhelmed—keep pressing forward . . . Prayer is hard work and it requires determination . . . We don’t always feel like doing it, but we push through because the results are worth it.
INSIGHT . . .
Our generation desperately needs to rediscover the difference
between praying for and praying through.
(Mark Batterson)
We’re great at praying for things . . . We pray for our meals . . . We pray for safe travels . . . We pray for people when something hard happens . . . Praying for is when we lift up quick needs—short prayers that invite God into our moment . . . and this is often the starting point of conversation with God, stating what is wanted or needed . . . making a request, petition, or intercession to God on behalf of a specific need . . . The desired outcome, (e.g., praying for a sick relative or a good job result) doesn’t necessarily last for a great length of time.
These are all important prayers, they’re valuable, and they matter . . . yet there’s another layer of prayer—the kind that pushes through until something shifts, or changes . . . That’s what's called praying through . . . Praying through requires a different kind of endurance, and it builds deep faith, not just quick peace.
Praying through is when we stay at the altar or on our knees, circling the same promise over and over, believing even when we don’t yet see the answer . . . It’s the difference between “Lord, bless this meeting” and “Lord, I’m believing in a breakthrough in this season, and I’m not letting go until I see it” . . . It’s not about how long the prayer is, but how long we’re willing to endure . . . Praying through means persisting in prayer through a difficult trial until you feel inner peace, clarity, or assurance from God . . . It involves building endurance, a relationship, and a transformation of your own heart, rather than just an instant fix.
It’s really easy to pray for things but not always easy to pray through things. . . . Many of us spend years praying through challenging circumstances . . . and we struggle with what appears to be silence . . . As we pray through our lives, we are reminded that prayer is not a button that’s pushed that instantly delivers the exact results that we’re looking for . . . Instead, we’re reminded that we’re pursuing a relationship with God.
There are certainly circumstances where praying for something will get the job done . . . short prayers before meals because, quite frankly, eating food while it's still hot is definitely preferable . . . But there are also situations where we need to grab hold of the horns of the altar and refuse to let go until God answers . . . that is where praying through comes in.
If we’re going to be people that’re able to face the challenges that life throws at us, we have to trust God through faith and consistently pray through life . . . Be assured, know that it's always too soon to quit praying when you’re waiting—because you never know when the wall is about to fall, the door is about to open, or a hardened heart finally softens . . .
You are always only one prayer away from a miracle.
INVITATION—TO TALK WITH GOD . . .
We’ve talked before about one of the most common misconceptions regarding prayer is that it needs to be done in a certain way . . . following a formula with just the right religious words, etc. . . . People struggle with prayer, often afraid to mess it up . . . Traditional prayer formats or rigid templates can feel restrictive and limiting, turning a personal relationship into a mechanical checklist . . . Prayer is supposed to be a free-flowing, honest conversation with God . . . not a performance judged by structure, word count, or saying just the right thing.
Have you ever felt restricted, or judged by people
because of the way you do or don’t pray?
Let go of all your past self-imposed boundaries and constraints,
and just talk to God.
Mark Batterson writes that, “Maybe one of the reasons we get frustrated in prayer is our ASAP approach. When our prayers aren’t answered as quickly or easily as we would like, we get tired of circling. Maybe we need to change our prayer approach from as soon as possible to as long as it takes.”
Do you live your life as an ASAP person? . . . How is that working out for you?
We all know the acronym ASAP . . . It means “as soon as possible” . . . We like ASAP things all the time . . . Let’s do it God and get on with it, now . . . But God takes longer most of the time . . . God works through us and others to make those prayers happen, and that takes time—God’s timing . . . When we attach ASAP to all of our prayers, we shove God’s plans out the door . . . we have zero patience and wonder why God isn’t answering us NOW!
Prayer is not a means of outlining our agenda to God,
but it is a means to get into His presence
so He can outline His agenda for us.
(Mark Batterson)
We are encouraged to keep praying . . . We’re encouraged to expect and believe in great and mighty things from our God who can . . . We are to stay humble, stay patient, and stay focused as we wait upon the Lord in prayer . . . And God has His plans for this world . . . We are a tiny hub in His plans . . . We need to wait.
What is the hardest part of waiting?
. . . Lack of Trust?
. . . Lack of patience?
. . . Just too tired?
Is there something you have “stopped praying for” too soon? . . . Why?
This is a good time to be honest with God,
telling Him what you are struggling with and asking for His help.
Few qualities in prayer, and in life, are more important than patience, endurance, and perseverance . . . it involves raw determination and zero quit . . . We need to learn to pray with zero quit—ALAT ~ As long as it takes! . . . Those are the prayers we need to pray . . . Remember that God makes His own timeline . . . Let’s pray as long as it takes . . . Let’s continue to believe that our God can do anything . . . Never give up praying.
God is never early.
God is never late.
God is always right on time.
(Mark Batterson)
For some of us, there are those things that we have been praying for what seems like forever . . . The benefits of praying these lasting prayers includes learning to trust God while we wait upon Him, drawing closer to Him, and being able to cast our cares upon Him.
What are some things you’re praying for right now? . . . Are they ASAP prayers?
What are some things you need to start praying through instead . . . ALAT prayers?
Talk with God and ask Him to help you find patience to persevere.
God longs to communicate with us and build our relationship with Him . . . That’s Who our God is . . . He longs to “walk with us and talk with us and tell us we are His own . . . and the joy we share as we tarry with Him, none other has ever known” . . . Keep trusting that even when you can’t see it, God is still writing your story, writing the whole story.
ILLUMINATION . . .
Every morning at 7 a.m., Mother Dabney greeted the Lord with a hearty, “Good morning, Jesus” . . . How do you start your mornings? . . . Do you start them with Jesus?
This is a simple phrase, “Slow down and appreciate the wonder of life” . . . yet it’s filled with words of a prayer, if you think about it . . . if you let the words seep into your heart and soul.
Good morning, Jesus,
Lord, help me slow down this morning and take in what you have in store for me today.
Help me open all my senses to see all you have created in the world around me.
And help me appreciate, be thankful for, the wonder of life You offer us today.
My challenge is for you to start your morning with Jesus each day, “Good Morning, Jesus” . . . then say a prayer . . . but don’t stop talking with Him or even say “AMEN” until you rest your head on your pillow at night.
INSPIRATION—PRAYING THROUGH MUSIC . . .
Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears –
it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear–
it can provide access, even when no medication can,
to movement, to speech, to life.
(Oliver Sacks)
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 . . . Still
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUJKX8r43Nw&list=RDBUJKX8r43Nw&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Praise & Worship . . . Who Am I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4tzBTcCfBOA&list=RD4tzBTcCfBOA&start_radio=1
♪♬♪ Traditional . . . Be Still My Soul
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFj68DbbHRI&list=RDaFj68DbbHRI&start_radio=1
INTO EACH DAY AHEAD . . .
“In this world you will have trouble.
But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33b
Jesus knew we’d grow weary . . . He knew our hearts would break over the results and consequences of sin in this world . . . Jesus knew our souls would cringe and cry out every time evil triumphed and good people suffered . . . He knew we’d long for heaven—where all would be made right with no more sickness, dying, or pain . . . He knew life would be long, and hard, and heartbreaking . . . but He didn’t leave us alone . . . He is with us in every step of our journey of life.
Jesus also knew that when we pray, God works . . . and God does more in an hour than we can do in a lifetime . . . For us, prayer must be a way of life—and sometimes that is short prayers and sometimes it is as long as it takes prayers . . . The important thing we need to understand is that God, not man, always sets the timetable of answering prayer.
Pray about what to pray about . . . God will reveal a promise, a problem, or a person . . . Then focus upon whatever God has prompted you to pray for with the same kind of consistency with which the earth circles the sun . . . The goal is to figure out what God wants, what God wills . . . Then you start circling it in prayer and don’t stop.
Lord Jesus,
We love being with You, talking to You and listening for Your voice.
You are our Lord and my God.
May we listen with the ear of a disciple on a daily, moment by moment basis.
May we stay humble and focused in prayer as long as it takes. In Jesus Name.—Amen!
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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)