How To Pray

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

I hear it all the time: “I just don’t know how to pray.”

For some reason, we tend to complicate something God has made so simple. Something that should come as natural as breathing.

In Matthew 6, Jesus tells us:

Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace. The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

(Matthew 6:6-13 MSG)

 

God doesn’t require lofty, rehearsed words copied from those we deem as more spiritual. No pretense, only sincerity. Prayer is a personal, intimate conversation with the One who loves us with an unconditional, everlasting love.

 

Talk to Him. He’s waiting to hear from you.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash and Fa Barboza.

A New Year’s Prayer from Words That Matter

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

God … gives us richly all things to enjoy.

1 Timothy 6:17 NKJV

How quickly these last twelve months have passed. I’m sure you’ll all agree. Here we are on the brink of 2025, ready to welcome a brand new year filled with possibilities. Instead of making a list of resolutions that fly south by the middle of February, let’s enter 2025 with a prayer:

Heavenly Father, I thank you for every blessing you poured out on me in 2024, both great and small. I thank you for every hardship and obstacle I faced because it has made me stronger and drawn me closer to you. As I step into 2025, may I do so with faith, trust, and hope, believing that this will be a victorious year as I walk hand in hand with you. Your Word says that you have given us “richly all things to enjoy.” May I enjoy every moment, never taking my life for granted or forgetting to thank you and praise you with every breath I take. You have blessed me to be a blessing. I commit myself and this upcoming year to you and ask that you use me in whatever way you see fit to encourage others and point them to you.

In your holy, precious name, amen.

 

Happy New Year, everyone. Thank you for being part of the Words That Matter family.

Photo courtesy of Unsplash.com and Ben White.

Don’t Forget to Ask

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

You don’t have what you want because 

you don’t ask God for it.

James 4:2 NLT

I needed a favor but was too timid to ask. I fretted about it for days, trying to figure out how to make something happen, even hoping my friend would see the need, and I wouldn’t have to say anything at all.

When I finally saw no other way around it and presented my dilemma, she said, “Why did you wait so long? All you had to do was ask.”

How often do we do that with the Lord? We have a need but fail to take it to the One who has all the answers and all the solutions. We spend countless, unproductive hours analyzing our problem and trying to figure out how to fix it ourselves. Most of the time we end up frustrated and stressed out.

All the while, God is saying, “Why did you wait so long? All you had to do was ask.”

The Bible clearly tells us that we have not because we ask not (James 4:2). Jesus Himself said, “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 NLT). And according to 1 John 14-15, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him” (NIV).

Some say when we get to the end of our rope, we should tie a knot and hang on for dear life. But why wait until we get desperate? How much better off would we be if we would learn to take everything to the Lord in prayer immediately. To seek His face, His wisdom, and His guidance. To pray and keep on praying, knowing that He hears us and is working on our behalf—even when we can’t see or feel it.

Child of God, Your Father already knows what you need, but the Bible says, “without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).

God is ready to answer your prayers. Just don’t forget to ask.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and imagery majestic.

A Formula for Overcoming Stress

 

By Andrea Merrell

Stress. Some call it the silent killer. It can destroy our peace, joy, health, sense of well-being—and even our life.

We all face it in one way or another. Even good things can cause it, especially when decisions have to be made and time is a factor. We can complain, medicate, or ignore the symptoms but instead of heading for burnout, The Word for You Today gives us an acronym for overcoming stress:

Seek God’s guidance

God promises to be with us—always. To give us guidance. To impart wisdom and keep us on the right path. When we seek Him first, He promises to take care of all that concerns us.

Trust what God tells you.

God is trustworthy. People will let us down but God never will. He is always working on our behalf even when we can’t see, feel, or understand it.

Remember past victories.

Sometimes we need to look back at all the times God has come through for us and praise Him in advance for seeing us through this time.

Exalt God above the problem.

We have to get our eyes off the problem and put them on the problem-solver. My pastor says, “Whatever you give your attention to, you empower. Whatever you empower, empowers you.”

Solicit the prayers and support of others.

We were not created to face this life alone. That’s why the body of Christ is so important. We should never hesitate to ask for prayer, especially when going through a rough time.

Stand on the promises of God.

God’s Word is truth, the ultimate and final authority on all matters. Find out what God says and stand on that truth.

If you’re facing a stressful situation, practice these six steps, then watch what the Lord will do in your life.

Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.

Knee-Mail

 

By Andrea Merrell

 

Pray without ceasing.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 NKJV

I recently saw a cartoon that showed a little girl kneeling beside her bed, sending her knee-mail to God. A lost art.

In this fast-paced world of tweets, instant messages, texts, emails—and sometimes only emojis—have we lost the ability to really connect with people?

And what about God? Do we send Him a quick IM when we’re in trouble or do we take the time to seek Him, to pour our heart out to Him? Do we flash Him a cute smiley face when He blesses us or do we take time to praise Him, to thank Him for His goodness?

It seems as though getting on our knees has become a thing of the past. (In my case, I wouldn’t be able to get back up … 😊) But bowing a knee is simply an outward expression of posturing the heart. We submit to the Lord by humbling ourselves before Him. We can talk to Him and pray without ceasing no matter where we are or what we’re doing, but we should never discount the practice of taking a knee before our Creator.

Don’t wait. He's waiting for your knee-mail.

 

 Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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God doesn’t want our tweets, texts, emails, instant messages, or even an emoji. He wants us to humble ourselves before Him and pray without ceasing. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Wait For It …

 By Andrea Merrell

Lord, the only thing I can do is wait and put my hope in you.
    I wait for your help, my God.

Psalm 38:15 TPT

 

A hush fell over the crowd. All eyes focused on one thing. In a barely audible voice the announcer said, “wait for it …”

Ten seconds later, the people shouted with joy. Applause replaced the silence as the tiny white ball dropped into the cup. Game won.

Waiting is part of life. We live in a constant state of anticipation, expecting either good or bad. With the bad, sometimes the anticipation is far worse than what we’re waiting for. It might be a dental appointment. Surgical procedure. Test results. A call from our prodigal. In the good times, we wait for news of the birth of a grandchild. A job promotion. A marriage proposal. A contest. A miracle.

No matter what we’re waiting for, the anticipation can affect us positively or negatively. It depends on our attitude. Some say that over 90 percent of the things we dread or fear never come to pass. So why do we spend our time worrying and fretting over what we cannot control?

It’s a matter of changing our mindset. Thinking differently. Seeing from a new perspective. The Bible calls it “renewing our minds.” How do we do that? By saturating it with God’s Word.

What are you anticipating? Hoping for? Praying for? The Bible is filled with blessings and promises. Ask in faith for what you need, and then trust Him to answer—in His way and in His time. In the meantime, give Him thanks and praise from a heart full of gratitude.

Then, wait for it …

Photo by Steven Shircliff on Unsplash

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The Bible is filled with blessings and promises. Ask in faith for what you need. Then trust Him to answer in His way and in His time. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Are We Praying or Complaining?

 

By Andrea Merrell

The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power

and produces wonderful results.

James 5:16 NLT

 

Things didn’t turn out as I expected, and I realized my prayer of desperation had turned into whining and complaining.

Chris Tiegreen says:

Sometimes desperate prayer turns into depressing prayer and may not even be prayer at all. When we talk to God without faith, without hope, and without expectation, we’re just talking. We’re merely itemizing our problems. God doesn’t need your description of the problem. He already knows it in far more detail than you do. He is looking for you to see his solution and then agree with it in prayer.

Unfortunately, my faith-filled prayer turned into nothing more than a laundry list of all my problems—which God was already well aware of. He patiently waited while I flapped my jaws and aired my complaints, then reminded me of His goodness and faithfulness. Just because I didn’t get the results I wanted didn’t mean He turned a deaf ear. When I asked forgiveness for my attitude and began to praise Him, faith rose. Hope returned.

Nothing catches God by surprise. He knows the details of every situation even better than we do. His timing is always perfect and His way best. When we give our problems to Him and let Him work them out, we can rest assured He will do just that and always with our best interest at heart.

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

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Nothing catches God by surprise. He knows the details of every situation even better than we do. His timing is always perfect and His way best. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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There's No App for That

 

By Andrea Merrell

His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness.

2 Peter 1:3 NKJV

Why is the Christian life so hard? someone posted on Facebook. There should be an app to make it easier.

I didn’t reply but wanted to say, “Sorry, sweetheart (hear the sarcasm?), there’s no app for that.

We have iPhones, iPads, and iPods but no iFaith. We have email, evites, and ebooks but no ePrayers.

Learning, maturing in our faith, and growing close to God is a process, not an event. A marathon, not a sprint. We're told, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12 KJV). Another translation says, “Be even more careful to do the good things that result from being saved, obeying God with deep reverence and shrinking back from all that might displease Him” (TLB).

I’ve always heard that nothing worth having comes easy. As they say, no pain, no gain. There are limitless resources online that will help us, but nothing we can do—especially by staring at our electronic devices all day—can replace quality time spent with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.

As His child, God has given us “all thing that pertain to life and godliness,” and those things cannot be found in the cyber world.

Draw close to God. Make spending time with Him a priority. Give Him your all, and watch what He will do in your life. There’s no better way to live. And there’s no app for that. Just His love, mercy, and grace.

Photo by Daria Nepriakhina on Unsplash

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Living the Christian life means spending quality time with God in prayer and in His Word. There's no app for that. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

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Your Answer Is On the Way

 By Andrea Merrell

 

And since we know he hears us when we make our requests,

we also know that he will give us what we ask for.

1 John 5:15 NLT

 

 

My friend was frustrated. Disheartened. She had prayed for a situation that only seemed to get worse with time. Her faith was shaken. She wondered if God was even listening. 

When we pray and don't see immediate results, we often wonder if our prayers are in vain, yet we are instructed in the Scriptures to pray always, placing our faith, hope, and trust in the Lord.

Sometimes we find ourselves praying about the same situation for years. That was my experience when my son and daughter went down the road of the prodigal. But God taught me many lessons during that time. One is that He hears every single cry of our heart and sees every tear. And He is always working on our behalf, even when we can’t see, feel, or understand.

God wants us—His children—to pour out our petitions before Him, then thank Him in advance for the answer. In Jesus Calling, Sarah Young writes:

When you bring me your prayer requests, lay out your concerns before me. Speak to me candidly; pour out your heart. Then thank me for the answer that I have set into motion long before you can discern results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank me for the answers that are on the way. If you keep on stating your concerns to me, you will live in a state of tension. ~ Jesus

Never stop believing, and never stop praying. But most importantly, never stop thanking God. 

Your answer is on the way.

 

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

 

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Never stop believing, and never stop praying. But most importantly, never stop thanking God. Your answer is on the way. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

 

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Unanswered Prayers

 By Andrea Merrell

 

You don’t get it because your motives are all wrong.

James 4:3 NLT

The man was angry with God because he didn’t get the promotion, new house, and fancy new car he wanted—and felt he deserved. He was part of the name-it-and-claim-it crowd. The bless-me-my-four-and-no-more group. 

These misguided folks believed they could have absolutely whatever they wanted. After all, the Bible tells us we can pray for anything, and if we believe, it will be ours, right? So why don't we get everything we ask for?

Fortunately, James gives us the answer: “Even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what gives you pleasure.”

When we pray with selfish motives, our prayers are hindered. God wants to bless us and give us the desires of our heart, but our desires must line up with His will. He blesses us so we can be a blessing to others. We can see this all throughout the Scriptures. We need to become less self-focused and more others-focused. Bob Gass says:

God knows what you want, and He knows why you want it. Is it only for your own comfort and convenience or also to fulfill His purposes? When you look out only for your own interests, only one person is working on your behalf—you! But when your goal is to bless others, God goes to work and answers your prayers in ways you never imagined possible.”

God told Abraham, “I will bless you … and you will be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2 NIV). That same promise applies to all the seed of Abraham. God gives to us so we can give to others.

Be generous. Give with a cheerful heart, and watch what God will do in your life.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and David Castillo Dominici.)

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Don't Stop Praying for Them

By Andrea Merrell

Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened that it cannot save;

nor His ear heavy, that it cannot hear.

Isaiah 59:1 NKJV

 

A certain family member has been out of my life for years. I have no contact with him, but it breaks my heart to know that he does not believe in the God I love and serve. Many previous conversations with him about the Lord have only gotten me this: “That’s so good for you. I’m very proud of you, it’s just not for me. I’m doing fine.”

But I keep praying.

Some have said, “Let it go. He’s too hardhearted, too far gone …”

But I keep praying.

When my son and daughter were caught up in a scary lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, they appeared to be “too far gone” as well. But I kept praying and believing, and God answered. He delivered and restored them.

There’s always hope. No one is ever too far gone. I once had a poster with a picture of a large rock with a single flower growing through a small crack. It read, No heart is so hard that God’s love can’t break through.

The psalmist wrote about himself, “So many are saying, ‘God will never rescue him’” (Psalm 3:2 NLT). But David wasn’t discouraged, and he didn’t listen to popular opinion. Instead, he cried, “But you, O Lord are a shield around me. You are my glory, the one who holds my head high” (vs. 3).

Maybe you’ve been praying for someone for years. The skeptics and naysayers might try to discourage you, telling you that you’re wasting your time. It’s too late. There’s no point. But our God is a God of miracles. He is faithful, and His Word is true.

Whatever you do, don’t stop praying.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and imagerymajestic.)

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No one is ever too far gone for God’s love to break through.Don’t ever stop praying for those who need to know Him. via @AndreaMerrell (Clickto tweet.)

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Get Real with God

By Andrea Merrell

 

“I don’t know how to pray,” the woman said. “I don’t know enough of those fancy thee and thou words.”

The pastor shook his head and smiled. “That’s not what God expects. He simply wants you to talk to Him as you would a friend. Be genuine."

The woman’s eyes widened, then the reality of the pastor’s words hit their mark. “That I can do.”

Someone once said the things of God aren’t nearly as hard as we make them out to be. This is especially true when it comes to prayer. God doesn’t want us to come to Him with a prepared speech or fancy words. He desires a transparent heart-to-heart conversation where we put down the façade and get real with Him—without fear of being judged or rejected.

The truth is God already knows our thoughts, how we feel, and the desires of our heart. And He longs to talk with us about them all. Moses and God had an open, honest, candid exchange. Moses was honest with God without being disrespectful. And God called him friend.

If you’re having trouble communicating with the Lord, open up your heart. Pour out all your doubts, your fears, your questions, and your needs. Get real with Him. That’s what He’s waiting for.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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When in Doubt ... Don't

By Andrea Merrell

But don’t begin until you count the cost.

Luke 14:28 NLT

It’s been my motto for years: when in doubt … don’t.

But we did.

My husband and I made a hasty, spur-of-the-moment decision—something we typically never do—and it has, as they say, come back to haunt us.

Snap decisions are rarely a good idea unless you’re in a life or death situation. In our home, we talk, think, and pray about things, especially large purchases.

The Bible instructs us to “count the cost.” In other words, it’s foolish to begin a construction project without knowing if you have enough money to complete it. Or for that matter, to begin anything else without knowing all the details.

In our case, we judged the proverbial book—a used car—by its cover. This vehicle had a beautiful exterior, a low price, and included all the bells and whistles. What we found between the pages—under the hood and front bumper—was a nightmare.

We’re instructed throughout Scripture to pray about everything. God wants us to consult Him about whatever we do so He can give us input (godly wisdom, knowledge, and understanding). He cares about what we care about and wants to be involved in our decision-making. Even though every answer we receive may not be clear-cut, we can make it a habit to “pursue the things which make for peace” (Romans 14:19 NKJV).

Fortunately, God redeemed our mistake, helped us make necessary repairs, and has given us direction about how to move forward. Hopefully, we’ll listen a little more carefully the next time around.

If you have a big decision facing you, ask God to show you the way. Then pursue peace.

And remember. When in doubt … don’t.

(Photo courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles. )

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In making decisions, ask God for clarity, then follow after peace. When in doubt … don’t. via @AndreaMerrell (Click to tweet.)

 

Pray About Everything

By Andrea Merrell

Casting all your cares [all your anxieties,

all your worries, and all your concerns,

once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you

[with deepest affection, and watches over you 

very carefully].

1 Peter 5:7 AMP

“That’s stupid. I would never bother God with something so trivial.”

As my friend said the words, she looked at me in a way that clearly told me she thought I had lost my mind.

The conversation took place a long time ago but has stayed with me all these years. Did it change my perspective on prayer or stop me from going to God with my needs? Absolutely not. If anything, it caused me to take a closer look at Scripture to get God’s perspective on the subject.

What I’ve learned is that God is concerned about everything that concerns me—big or small—and He invites me to cast all my care on Him. Philippians 4:6 instructs me not to worry about anything, but to pray about everything. God also promises in Psalm 138:8 to perfect everything that concerns me. To me, that means He wants to be involved in the fine print of my life as well as the headlines.

Because I know He loves me and wants to lead, guide, and direct my steps, I will continue to pray about all the major events in my life, but I will also pray about parking spaces, bad hair days, and the weather. I will seek His guidance on things like moving furniture, buying gifts, and what color to paint the walls.

God is sovereign. He is eternal. He is the mighty One, Creator of heaven and earth. He is the great I AM. But he is also intimately acquainted with us as His children and wants to be our best and closest friend. When we invite Him in, He promises to be with us always, so why shouldn’t we talk to Him about all things, great and small?

And when you pray ... don't forget to be thankful.

Wishing you and your family a blessed and happy Thanksgiving holiday!

(Photos courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net and Stuart Miles.)

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God wants me to pray about everything ... even the small stuff.  via @AndreaMerrell (Click to Tweet.)

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When You Do Your Part ... God Does His

By Andrea Merrell

Sometimes when I pray, I have to ask myself if I’m doing my part.

Doing my part can mean several things. It’s up to me to allow God to be involved in every part of my life. Staying in intimate fellowship depends on how much time I’m willing to commit to our relationship. The Bible tells me that when I draw close to Him, He will draw close to me. When I humble myself before Him, He will lift me up. When I confess my sins, He is always faithful to forgive me. When I ask for something in faith, according to His will, He will answer.

God’s love is amazing and unconditional. It’s a gift, and there’s nothing we can do to make Him love us more … or less. But when it comes to His Word, He puts the ball back in our court and asks us to meet the condition He has placed on the promise.

In other words, if I want to be blessed financially, He expects me to be a giver. As a tither, my covenant with God gives me the right to ask when I’m in need, knowing He will meet that need. If I need to be forgiven, He expects me to forgive. When I need wisdom, He says all I have to do is ask. When I admit my weakness, He pours His strength into me.

Does God know what I need before I ask? Absolutely. He also promises to give me the desires of my heart when I delight in Him. But He also tells me all through Scripture to worry about nothing and pray about everything.

If you’re in a situation that has you on your knees and you feel God is not responding, go to the Word and check out His promises. Have you met the conditions? Are you doing your part?

One thing is certain: God is faithful. He is a man of His Word. When we do our part … He will do His. That’s a promise you can count on.

(Photos courtesy of Morguefile and FreeDigitalPhotos.net/Stuart Miles.)

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