Hi, everyone! I wish you the very best (a little late) as we Americans remember the historic significance of July. I’m thankful to live in this amazing country with the blessings it affords. If not for brave souls who made sacrifices—even risking their lives and fortunes—this would be a different nation. I’m grateful our founding fathers were smart and determined. Their choices and wisdom made all the difference. With all her faults, I hope God would still bless America with his presence.
But I digress. On to the real reason I’m here…
We’re talking about something dear to my heart: prayer. There are precious fruits of the labor in prayer; we chose to think about hope. My soul often leans into prayer. I was planted in a family who prays. I am beautifully connected to a sort of second family who prays in my church. And I hope my sons are the next generation of men who pray prayers that echo like thunder. Prayer is powerful and effective for the needy soul. (I’m that soul on any given day.) Are prayer and hope inextricably linked?
What is prayer anyway?
Prayer is comprised of words. But, it’s not yammering on or making small talk. Often the words aren’t warm, fuzzy feelings, and they aren’t some kind of “light” or “positivity” we send out into the universe. The words are a two-way exchange incorporating listening, and so they become a conversation. Prayer’s focus—and the most important part—is who the conversation is with.
Words and The Living Word
The Bible tells us what prayer is and to whom we pray. Prayerful words are designed to create intimate communication with God—all of God, the Trinity. Prayer puts us in direct communication with the God of the universe, our Heavenly Father; through Jesus, the Son; by the power of the Spirit. And that sounds a little heavy in the theology department, but it’s important to think in those terms sometimes.
But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. Matthew 6:6a CSB
I’m thankful our Father hears what is prayed privately, or even silently (6:6b).
Therefore since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to the confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time. Hebrews 10:14-16
In what other way can we approach the throne of God (from the physical world) but through prayer?
In the same way the Spirit also joins to help in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with unspoken groanings. Romans 8:26
Plain and simple. Sometimes there are no words. Sometimes we don’t know how to pray. When we’re at a loss for words or we fear our wants and needs might be muddled, we count on the Holy Spirit to speak into that moment. He is willing to step in, and if we let him, Spirit will pray in our stead.
Why Pray?
He said to them, “Whenever you pray, say: Father, Your name be honored as holy. Your kingdom come. Luke 11:2
Let’s never forget who we are praying to, first. We’re asking God to break through in our world in the ways only he can. He is holy, set apart. Today that looks like a whole other reality; someday we’ll walk into his presence and see his face. Nothing in this world happens without his knowledge, but we can have meaningful, intimate conversations with our almighty Father in heaven from this realm.
But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, Matthew 5:44
…bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. Luke 6:28
The hardest prayers to pray can be for those who have hurt us, friends, or family members. Those are tough prayers, but this is a command.
Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. James 5:13a
We’re familiar with these prayers. When we have compassion for the sick, weak, or hurt, we pray. That’s actually a directive. We learn to pray in the big and little stuff. (The latter can be harder to remember.)
Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:38
Let’s not forget to ask the Lord to equip his people to speak well, be able to give answers, and to share the hope! (See 1 Peter 3:15-16.)
…praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, Ephesians 6:18 ESV
We pray. At all times. All kinds of prayers. Persevering in prayer for all of God’s people, including ourselves.
But, where’s the hope?
I need to know where the jet fuel in prayer is for the hope I need, and you may too.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1 Peter 1:3
Our good and merciful Father has given grace through Jesus. We don’t deserve it and can’t earn it. Our “living hope” is salvation through Jesus. We were saved from sin into a beautiful relationship with the Father. All because of Jesus. This life will end. What comes next hangs from nails in a cross. It’s a free gift—but a choice we make nonetheless. Since it’s an “already but not yet” kind of thing, we employ hope. We are children of God now, but we’ll walk heaven’s streets later. This is fuel for the hope fire, isn’t it?
I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I put my hope in Your word. Psalm 119:147
…casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
Because God is good (see his goodness in grace above) and he cares for us, our concerns are his concerns. When we are distressed or depressed, it matters to our Father. He has given us his Word (the Bible), the Living Word (Jesus), and his Spirit because he loves us that much! We have all we need in our terrible trouble. Every. Single. Moment. More hope. He cares about the little things and the big things.
If we don’t have strength or words or wisdom…
We have Jesus and the finished work on the cross.
We have the precious words from God on the pages of the Bible.
We have the Spirit who will pray with and for us.
God strengthens us through the pages of scripture, none of which make sense without Jesus or the Spirit. He hears our words, which are often inspired or amplified by the Spirit. But the only way to the Father is Jesus. The gift of the Spirit is through Jesus. Jesus is our hope. We pray to stay in close relationship with the One who loves us, cares about our lives, and acts on our behalf.
Nothing is possible without Jesus. (Talk about hopeless!) If we pray…if there is any hope to be fueled at all…it’s because of Jesus.
Thanks for reading, friends. Do you find prayer fuels your hope? I would LOVE to hear your thoughts on that. Share a time when prayer solidified hope for you. Comment below or stop over at the Facebook Page.
Love you all!
