Sometimes I wonder how often I mistake thinking for praying.
I think about a situation. I worry about it. I talk about it with friends. I replay it in my mind over and over. But have I actually prayed about it?
God knows every thought I think, but He has invited me to bring those thoughts to Him in prayer. Prayer isn’t simply thinking about God or hoping something changes. Prayer is intentionally coming before Him with faith, dependence, and surrender.
John Wesley once said, “God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” Whether or not we fully understand that statement, it reminds us of something essential: prayer is not optional for the believer—it is necessary.
In Acts 2, the believers devoted themselves to prayer. In Acts 12, while Peter was in prison, the church prayed earnestly for him. That word earnestly carries the idea of being stretched out, persistent, and unwavering. Their prayers weren’t casual or occasional; they were fervent and continuous.
We often long to experience the miracles, signs, and wonders we read about in Acts. But are we willing to embrace the same lifestyle of devoted, steadfast prayer?
Too often, prayer becomes what we do at the beginning of a meeting and at the end of a meal. We open with prayer. We close with prayer. But what if the whole middle was prayer?
What if prayer wasn’t simply an event that framed our day, but the atmosphere in which we lived?
Maybe the greatest challenge isn’t whether God is willing to move. Maybe it’s whether we are willing to become people who are devoted to prayer.
First published on Substack.
