Three Powerful Ways to Pray (Part 3)

Donald Trump’s been criticized for his Twitter fascination but I can’t condemn the president elect because I am a regular Twitter user as well. I like the social medium because it’s a great way to connect with the world.  Take @speedprayers for example. It is one of the 2000 plus I follow on this Social Media platform and I’ve noticed them over others because they tweet or retweet prayers in 140 characters or less. It catches my attention.

While I like the speedy prayer, I don’t think it’s the way God works. Prayer is our way of communication with our Father in Heaven and he prefers that we dwell in his presence. 140 characters should be the minimum, not the maximum.

We find victory in the courts of the Lord. That’s where God does his best work in our lives. It’s where the breakthrough resides.

Psalm 92:12-13 says, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon, planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God.”

The cedar of Lebanon is a slow-growing tree, living up to 1000 years. Likewise, the palm tree is one of the oldest trees around and can survive up to 700 years. The Word is saying if we plant ourselves in God’s presence for great lengths of time, rather than the hurried “speed prayers” we submit to him, we will flourish in the courts.

This is the third powerful way to pray: patiently.

We should not treat Almighty God like a tollbooth operator, throwing our prayers in as we pass through. He wants us to pull over and park for a while. He desires undivided attention.

When we slow down and have a conversation with God, there are powerful results.

Psalm 84:10 says, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.” If that’s the case, why don’t we spend more days in God’s courts?

Today, try carving out more time for your loving Father. He wants to hear how you are faring. He desires to know your concerns and he wants to help out your friends and family. We have to realize we draw power from God in his presence; in his courts.

Slow prayers are what he prefers.