‘If you pray well, we’ll come with you,’ I’m reminded time and again. A prayer before driving has become our anchor of safety behind the wheel for several years now.
Since the time I have suffered from a specific chronic neurological disorder, it has become a habit for me to pray to God for safety when in the driver’s seat. The time before igniting the engine has been important to me.
Yet there were times when we’re in a rush, I simply mumbled my prayer in haste without giving much heart to it.
In one way, I did not trust my ability to move, think, and see while on the road. All these were affected by the disorder in my brain.
One day, while returning from the church service, we were hit from the tail bumper with a loud sound, which alarmed my children. Not much damage has been done since we can still move forward after a brief talk with the other driver.
The situation, not for the first time, did not go well with my children. They question, ‘Did you pray well before driving?’ I could recall on the spot whether or not I had prayed well that morning. So, their conclusion follows.
Praying well:
Now, ‘Praying well’ is considered a necessary, non-optional act that connects a person to God, as emphasized by 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
It is one among the final instructions to the believers in Thessalonica before the Day of the Lord. Praying well continually, with a humble heart, is the will of the Father to maintain a sustainable relationship with him in his grace.
The Lord God gave us everything before we asked Him. Yet in prayer, we can only talk to him in the name of Jesus Christ, who sacrificed himself so that we may reconnect with our creator.
Prayer Well:
Each one of us has a prayer well in our home, inside the car, or outside in the prayer cabin. Some went to the nearest church available in the city to spend time, pouring out our hearts to God.
We all have a place in our home, I believe, where we always kneel before the Lord when we’re burdened, which is the safest way of laying down our burden.
But also giving thanks to the Lord, especially when we’re alone. Alone, when no one is around, has several benefits – our mind does not get corrupted very easily, we can say it out loud or talk to God in the name of Jesus Christ, express our happiness and sadness, and often pray for a better future in days to come.
The Power of Praying well:
The Bible affirms the power of prayer to bring comfort, guidance, and even healing. However, it doesn’t guarantee that God will answer every prayer in the way we desire. His will ultimately takes precedence.
The prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. James 5:15-16
Here comes, sometimes, the most challenging question. Do I lack faith, or am I not righteous enough, as my prayer is not always answered? The answer is according to our needs.
Praying Authentically:
Prayer is primarily seen as a two-way dialogue between you and God. It’s not just about making requests but expressing gratitude, confessing sins, and simply connecting with God in worship and adoration. Phil. 4:6-7
God cares more about your heart than your eloquence. Fancy words or public displays aren’t necessary. Pray authentically, humbly, and from the heart. Matt 6:5-8 It is not the words nor the loudness, but the heart of the prayer that God is interested in.
It is seen in the scripture that God is not happy with the practice of some sections of society. They prayed to be seen; they fasted to show it off. It is the faith and authenticity of the heart that matters to God.
When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret will reward you. Matt. 6:6
Faith in Praying Well:
The Bible encourages praying for your needs, for others, and for God’s will to be done. Don’t be afraid to bring anything to God, from daily concerns to bigger worries. Matt.6
Believe that God hears you and can answer your prayers, even if it’s not in the way you expect. Don’t give up. Continue to pray with faith and trust in God’s timing. Mark 11:24
Just as the Day of the Lord is not known, so is the timing of God to answer our prayers. Many times, the answer does not align with the desire of our heart. We missed it, or we tend to miss it because God has another plan with us to which we are not yet ready.
As for me now, I must keep the faith, praying and waiting on the Lord. Not only must I keep praying well before my daily activities, especially due to my disorder.
…The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Rom. 8:26
Prayer nourishes the soul, mind, and body. It rejuvenates our relationship with the living God. God takes care of us, even more so, the living God is accessible to us when we pray well.
