The Power of Prayer!

For most teens, prayer is not a popular thing. I, myself, have heard prayer preached for years--all my life to be exact. But for some reason, prayer has always been just casual for me--like for my food, for a test, to ask for forgiveness, and maybe for something I really want!

Prayer is something we ignore, but I’m really not sure why. When I thought about it, I guess being a 15-year-old girl, there’s not much dependence I have for prayer. It sounds blunt, but I understand why older people pray more. They have financial issues, choices to make, sick loved one, a lot more trials and so on. Don’t get me wrong. I believe in prayer and I enjoy praying at times. I’m just saying it wasn’t a part of my daily habits. That’s until August 15th!

I was telling my aunt Stacy today that I finally realize what it means when people say, “Sometimes it takes something bad to happen for you to wake up.” That is how I feel at the moment. To be honest—it stinks that I waited to discover what someone has been telling me all along. But, it’s exactly what happened to me. For years, I have heard how important a daily prayer life is and a daily relationship with the Lord is, but it took one life-changing moment to hit me in the face—literally, to understand it.

For the past 10 days, prayer has been my source of strength. I pray when I wake up. I pray as I am walking around. I pray when I feel anxious or nervous. I pray when I am just sitting around. It’s almost as if I understand the scripture in 1 Thessalonians 5:17 that says. “Never stop praying.” It’s clicking now! I really understand how important it is to have a prayer life—to know that you can talk to God anytime of the day and He is there. He is really there and is listening to me. Before August 15th, I felt like I had to have a specific reason to pray. But now, it’s more a relationship with God.

It’s funny to think that you would love someone so much and that your life depended on a relationship with this person, yet you never talked to them. How dumb would that be? Yet, that’s exactly what was happening in my life. I go to church. I sing the songs. I listen to the Word and I believe all of it. But, I wasn’t making my relationship with Jesus personal for me. And I am so happy to say that’s changed now. I am truly in love with my Savior. I understand what it means to feel His presence with me everywhere I go. I am experiencing something that is real. It’s not something I believe in anymore, but He’s someone I talk to all day long.

I know a lot of people may think I’m crazy for saying this but I pray more in the spirit then I do anything else. I’m sure some people understand what I mean, but a lot of people don’t. But I don’t know what I would do without the power of the Holy Spirit in my life. He is exactly what Jesus promised he would be. He is my comforter, my guide, my peace, my confidence and boldness. Everything I have been taught about the Holy Spirit came alive in me this past week. And I can’t even begin to explain how this makes me feel. There is a scripture that tells exactly how I feel when I pray in the Spirit.

Romans 8:26-28, 38-39 says:

26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This scripture has pretty much summed up my life these past 10 days. I feel closer to God than I ever have. And if I could share anything with teenagers like me, it would be to discover a real relationship with Christ—daily. Don’t wait until you are at your darkest hour…you may never get that chance. I am a walking miracle. I got that second chance. God is right there. He said that nothing can separate you from His love. All He desires is for us to trust Him, for us to need Him, to talk to Him. I encourage you to find a real relationship with Him today. Prayer is powerful. Prayer is life-changing. Prayer is my life.