Can you hear me ?

When I think about the five senses of our human body, I am astonished at the fact that we can use and significantly need these senses to make-up the world around us. Unfortunately, many individuals can not use some or all of their senses, due to their disability or undeveloped awareness to define it. Despite this, it is important to know that some senses can be more defined than others and they are as essential and helpful to make endless connections in the world around us. Having experience working with children and adolescents with special needs, I am amazed to see how they interact with the world around them with so much to give regardless of their disability. Some children have hypersensitive senses, to touch, sound, taste, and more. Also, scientific studies identify a sixth sense of awareness which is known as proprioception, which helps the brain navigate in the world using sharpened insight, intuition, or gut feeling. In my opinion, many people often neglect this sense because they do not understand its function or purpose. Alongside, If I may, I will add another important sense that we often, disregard to use effectively because generally speaking many lack the knowledge on how to use it and how to make it a vital sense in our daily lives. Hosea 4: 6 states “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge…” Thus, I call it the “the prayer sense”, and the way I understand it to be, that in our spiritual walk with God, prayer is one of the most vital compasses towards Him and a powerful way of projecting hope in this world. If I can define it; it would be that “the prayer sense” is the essence of our daily connection with our creator and the power given unto humans to maintain sanity, hope, peace, and love in a chaotic world. Like the “spider-sense” in the Marvel movie “Spiderman“, Spiderman requires his tools to fight off the evil around him and help his community as well because he believed in his ability and uses it for the better good of his mission. The same notion goes for prayer, we need it and use it as a powerful weapon and contributor for survival in this world. As a name, I would keep it as simple as it sounds ” The Prayer Sense “.

I recall, in my young years seeing people around me praying and I thought to myself, Wow I want to pray just like them one day and be as powerful. It seemed so special to observe people in the state of prayer, either on their knees, standing up, or pacing around the area where they were at. Furthermore, I decided to try it myself in my teenage years, and honestly, I was struggling to put words together to pray, and felt frustrated, and distracted because I was convinced I did not know how to pray. I resorted to the easiest way out which was not to pray at all. However, on occasion when things got really bad in my life of depression and anxiety, I requested people to pray for me and allowed many to lay hands on me to hear what God had to tell me through them. I often felt as if I was unworthy to pray in his presence because of the unmounted loads of sin I carried with me like a negative cloud all around me. But I was persistent and wanted to pray myself so I used to say out loud, Can you hear me? Can you hear me… someone, anyone? Can you hear me, GOD? I would stop there and move on about my day by trying to fill in a void. On the other hand, for many years, I would hear preachers say to the congregation “you have to PRAY, PRAY every day”. At this point, rock bottom hit me hard and I wanted to know more about how to pray, the reason, and the connection behind it. I needed to grasp and put it into practice daily because I often felt faint, discouraged about life, and not able to move forward on many levels. Even if for many years, it felt as if it was easier said than done, I had to push through that barrier, so I did and it brought me into a deeper level with God.

I want to share with you some tips that can be useful when you pray, to develop your “prayer senses”.It is important to take time for God out of your busy day. I recently read a book entitled “Powerful Prayers in the War Room” by Daniel B. Lancaster Ph.D. who referred to the use of the acronym of P.R.A.Y to connect with God on another level each day. Along with that, he strongly noted that we should use the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6: 9-13) as a basic blueprint or template for our prayer. However, note that this is not to repeat each time as a default prayer because you do not make the effort to speak your heart out to God. Prayer should not be done vainly instead it should be sincere and heartfelt. In biblical reference we can see in Matthew 5: 6-7 it says “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you ^[a]openly. ⁷ And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words”(NKJV). So just to be clear that you can use The Lord’s Prayer as a reference to help you access the throne of grace because later on, you will develop your own words that come from your heart. Besides, God teaches us how to use his word to pray and spend at least a 1hr or more in His presence. I know some may say; what a 1 hour, well that’s a lot and I used to say the same and often brought in the oppression of lack of prayer because my heart was not fully into it. I started noticing how I felt, every-time I wanted to pray, something started to get in the way, distracting me; all of sudden, I was more tired and pushed back the idea of praying. I wondered why and if this happened to others or it was just me not able to push through. BUT the more I entertained the thoughts, the fatigue, the more it took time away from me to pray. We can see in Matt 26: 39-40 Jesus went to pray as well to show us that it is possible to do. “He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”4⁰ Then He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me for one hour?” Matt 26: 39-40 (KJV).

Like every new learning experience, milestone, project, or plan you need to discipline and prepare yourself. For example, if you set your mind to work out for your health reasons, you have to discipline yourself and make sure you have a workout plan because if you are all over the place, you will not gain the right muscle tone or lose the right amount fat. I know that when I started working out, I only started 5-10 mins a day to get me in the groove and as the days went by I was more physically and mentally in-tuned to the workout and built momentum. I stopped contemplating in my thoughts on how will I get this weight off and get in shape, I just took action regardless of the stumbling blocks. Therefore, the key learning component in prayer; is to be consistent and do it wholeheartedly with a receiving mindset of God’s teachings, blessings, spirit, and more. Also being ready to hear from God who will operate in your life and your loved ones.

Here are some tips you can grasp to help build up your prayer walk with Jesus the God who created the heavens and the earth. This will build your confidence, your faith, and endurance in prayer, even if you start 5-10 mins it’s better than nothing at all.

“Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful”

Colossians 4:2

Praise

Coming to God with praise shows him the honor and respect He deserves. You thank Him for what he has done for you. Knowing and believing that He is the creator of all things, you can show him gratitude by saying ” thank you heavenly father, my God, my savior, the God of love and peace. Calling on his Name JESUS, JESUS, JESUS out loud and saying thank you for dying on Calvary for my sins. I also cry out Hallelujah, praise God, thank you for your faithfulness. You can notice it’s praising who created you, what helps us to think about something He did for you or did for someone you know. When I come to Jesus, I often start worshiping my heart out to him, saying thank you and letting my mind be set on him with very soft worship songs and this helps set the environment. Psalm 148 refers to praise; ^“13 Let them praise the name of the Lord, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven.¹⁴ And He has exalted the horn of His people, The praise of all His saints—Of the children of Israel, A people near to Him. Praise the Lord!”. We see as well in John 4: 23-24 “But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth”.

Repent

Coming to God with a repenting heart, moves the heart of God to forgive you for your sins. He wants us to tell him our deepest secrets as He is the greatest therapist, confidant, and psychologist there is to know. As the prophet Isaiah well describes Him in Isaiah 9: 6 “For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (NKJV). Moreover, In Jeremiah 29: 13 you can see that Jesus says; “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (NKJV).In your time of prayer, tell him how sorry you are for your daily sins and how you want to turn away from them and need His complete help and support. Regardless of how heavy your heart feels in this moment because of shame and pride, keep pushing with an honest approach to God. You might, feel to cry or sense a feeling of unworthiness overwhelm your soul but let yourself go. Because God will accept all your heavy burdens, fears, and concerns and replace it with peace, love, joy, and more .” If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness“. 1John 1:9 (NKJV). In the end, we are more effective in the kingdom of God when we have a repenting heart. We see in Matthew 3:8 “Produce fruit in keeping with repentance”. Moreover, in Luke 15:7 ” I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance“.

Ask

Coming to God is asking what we need for Him to do in our lives or the lives of others. This is an essential part in connecting to Him on a level where you are humble and vulnerable to ask because he says in Matt 7: 7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (NKJV). At this, the point I often would ask God to remove my fears and heal my heart from overwhelming pain. I also, have a strong burden for my family and friends and ask Him to intervene for them and give them salvation. In this part, I also caution what I ask for because I do not want to fall into the lust of my desires which may lead me away from God because of the lustful sense of my request. James 4: 3 is states “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures”. So I ask God to lead me towards what He knows is best for me and how my heart can receive it. I also ask him, that I stay humble in all situations, be a peacemaker and receive understanding and wisdom according to His will. But in this part, do not hesitate to ask God for he gives us according to his riches such as described in Philippians 4: 19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus”( NKJV). In Psalm 37 it says; 4″ Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart“. In Psalm 37 it says: “I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears“.

Yielding

Coming to God is yielding to Him, it allows Him to draw nearer to us because we allowed him in our hearts. This an important part of the prayer because it entails you to wait on God and listen to what He has to say but most importantly waiting by asking Him what you want me to do? , How can I help your kingdom grow? How can I be available to you and may your perfect will be done etc? This section of the prayer requires your undivided intention because He will speak to you which can be done in various forms with his word, his spirit speaking through you, or in His audible voice. So pay attention, and be ready to receive from him. Also, in this part I am quiet and listening as I whisper softy “speak to me God”, “telling Him what you want me to do?” how can I be available to you, to help someone in need not matter the hopeless in this world? “. Romans 8: 28 says “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. He knows the plan for our lives and wants us to prosper in this world and Him. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29: 11 (NKJV). Furthermore, we need to remind ourselves that, may his will be done. John 6: 38 declares “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me”.

In closing, I would often say, let your Will be done and let the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto you in Jesus Name Amen. We can see that in Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.” Using the Name of Jesus to seal off my prayers and we see that in Colossians 3: 17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him”.

Words of Encouragement

No matter, what is going on in the world keep praying, for God hears our prayer. In 1 John 5: 14 it says “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us“. Even if you do not understand what can be happening, He asks us to trust him blindly “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding .In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths“. Proverbs 3:5-6 ( NKJV). I encourage you to start praying even if you see it difficult for you to start, try your best God is not looking for word perfect prayers. He is looking for humble and honest hearts. If you want you can write it down, keep a journal of the written prayers, the date, and the answered prayers as well. Lastly, use the word in the bible to pray because it helps redefine your momentum and spiritual connection. You go this, baby steps but firm and productive ones! I will be praying that you connect or reconnect with God who is the author of our salvation. Keep using your “prayer senses” to bless yourself and others around you it’s a powerful tool.

Inspired Scriptures:

Matthew 6: 9-13, Matthew 5: 6-7, Matt 26: 39-40, Proverbs 3:5-6, 1 John 5: 14, Colossians 3: 17, Psalm 19:14, Jeremiah 29: 11, Romans 8: 28, James 4: 3, Philippians 4: 19, 2 chronicles 7:14, John 6: 38

Prayer

Dear God, I want to thank you for letting us come to you freely. You have given us access to your throne of grace with overflowing compassion. Help us to forgive one another and turn away from our wicked ways, let our actions speak love, compassion, and peace instead of shaming, hatred, and greed. As your word in 2 Chronicles, 7:14 says if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Even if we are overwhelmed by the cares of this world, I pray that you give us a heart ready to receive You and be blessed with understanding and wisdom. I ask that you, intervene in the lives of many around the world who suffer, from chronic depression, addictions, and many more negative torments. May you heal them and free their souls from this unwanted oppression. Help me make a difference in someone’s life, and touch the ones who are reading this blog according to your will. I Love you and thank you My Lord Jesus Christ, the savior of my soul. I pray in your mighty Name, Jesus. Amen!

And,

PS. Jesus Loves You