The 6 letter word that changed my life…

If you were to ask me the one thing that has MOST changed my life and my relationship with Jesus, the answer would be one 6 letter word…

Prayer.

However, prayer came much later in my faith walk. I mean, yes, I would pray at times, but it was not until much later in my walk that I began to fervently and intentionally pray.

It began with a book that my friend, Shelly, gave me on prayer. She said it was her mother’s, who had since passed. Her mother told her on her death bed, that if she could recommend ONE book, it would be this book on prayer.

Wow.

I quickly devoured that book.

From that moment on, I began the journey of prayer.

Prayer is not complicated.

It is a heart cry to our Savior.

It is praise.

It is worship.

It is confession of sin.

It is thanksgiving.

It is interceding for others.

It is presenting every request to Him.

I like order. So, if I order my prayers in this way, it helps my little brain and keeps my wandering mind on track.

This order isn’t my doing, it comes from Philippians…”do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

In 2014, 3 other friends and I began a prayer group.

To this day, we check in almost every day with prayers and requests for prayers.

We have seen miracle after miracle.

They know more about my life & my kids than probably anyone else besides my husband.

I love looking back on our text threads from years past and seeing God’s answers to prayers.

It will truly knock the wind out of you!

I could write a book on all of those miraculous answers to prayer.

If you have a moment, I would love to share one most recent with you today.

As I have written about in the past, my son struggled in high school. He had some very dark times.

As a mother, it was the hardest season of my life. When our kids are suffering, we seem to suffer ten fold.

In those dark days, while my son was at school, I would go down to his room in the basement and fall to my knees in prayer. I would tuck scriptures everywhere around his room. Under his mattress, in his closet…everywhere!

My sister was praying for him as well and she told me about a song she had heard at church. It was called, “I speak Jesus”.

I heard the song and it was exactly the cry of my heart over my son.

I began playing that song in his room on repeat. Speaking Jesus over every inch of that room. Filling it with Words of Truth and Power.

Years passed and I still get chills when I hear that song. I remember so vividly even the smell of his comforter as I was on my knees with my soaking wet face buried deep into his bed.

God has done a mighty work in our son’s life. God has answered those desperate prayers in more ways than I can even begin to describe in this post.

His faith has matured, and JOY has returned to his heart in a sweet way.

But, let me just tell you how intimate our Father is…how intricate and deeply personal He is with us.

A few weeks ago, we drove our son to Augusta to his very first medical school orientation. The four of us stayed in a little hotel room the night before so that he could get a good nights sleep before a full day on campus.

The morning of his orientation, my husband and I walked downstairs to get some coffee.

When I came back up to the room to make sure our son had begun getting dressed, I heard music playing through his phone.

The bathroom door was open, so I walked in and there he was.

Brushing his hair, and humming along to the song playing through his phone…

“I speak Jesus”.

Y’all. I could have melted right there on that hotel carpet.

I took a deep breath and through tears, just thanked God profusely for answering those prayers so many years before.

How specific, how intimate, how precious of God to give me a glimpse of His faithfulness in that moment.

I was reminded once again, of the power of prayer.

Prayer is the biggest tool we have in our tool box! Yet, I feel like it is the most under-used.

Prayer is often our last ditch effort.

Prayer should be what oozes out of us, day in and day out.

Prayer changes us. It also changes people.

More than that, it is our dialogue with Jesus.

It is the bridge between our will and His will.

It is EVERYTHING!

If you are new to prayer, it is OK! I was new too!

Start with the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray…

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name, your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13

Really, it is that simple.

I used to write this in my prayer journal…for years! I would pray this and ask God to lead me in any other way to pray.

He is looking for willing hearts. That is it!

I challenge you…find a prayer partner, or two.

Check in with each other daily. Pray for each other, fervently.

“Never stop praying.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Take that tool out of your tool box and wield it all day long.

Keep praying, and never stop.

sharpening my prayer tool,

jill