“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” James 5:16b (NIV)

I have to admit: Sometimes I’m scared to pray boldly.

It’s not at all that I don’t believe God can do anything. I absolutely do. I’m a wild-about-Jesus girl. Wild in my willingness. Wild in my obedience. Wild in my adventures with God.

So my hesitation isn’t rooted in any kind of doubt about God. It’s more rooted in doubts about myself and my ability to absolutely discern the will of God. The reality is sometimes God chooses not to do things. And if His will is “No,” while I am boldly praying for a “Yes,” it makes me feel out of step with God.

Can you relate?

I so desperately want to stay in the will of God that I find myself praying with clauses like: God please heal my friend, but if it’s Your will to take her, I will trust You.

I wonder why I don’t just boldly pray: God, please heal my friend. And then stand confidently knowing my prayers were not in vain — no matter what the outcome.

Praying boldly boots me out of that stale place of religious habit into authentic connection with God Himself.

Prayer opens my spiritual eyes to see things I can’t see on my own. And I’m convinced prayer matters. Prayers are powerful and effective if prayed from the position of a righteous heart (James 5:16).

So, prayer does make a difference — a life-changing, mind-blowing, earth-rattling difference. We don’t need to know how. We don’t need to know when. We just need to kneel confidently and know the tremors of a simple Jesus girl’s prayers extend far-wide and far-high and far-deep.

Letting that absolute truth slosh over into my soul snuffs out the flickers of hesitation. It bends my stiff knees. And it ignites a fresh, bold and even more wild fire within. Not bold as in bossy and demanding. But bold as in, I love my Jesus with all my heart, so why would I offer anything less than an ignited prayer life?

Jesus speaks specifically about igniting our prayer lives in Matthew 6, verses 6-8, “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (NIV).

So let’s ask. And ask again. Not because we can cause God to move, but so that we’ll position our souls to see our sweet Jesus move in any which way He pleases.

Dear Lord, I’m so grateful for the opportunity to bring all of my worries and cares to You. Thank You for providing me with exactly what I need. I trust You have my best interest in mind today. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

***

TRUTH FOR TODAY:

Psalm 145:18, “The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (NIV)

1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” (NIV)

RELATED RESOURCES:

What is the deep cry of your heart? That ache in your soul that keeps you up at night? The prayer you keep repeating? Jesus not only cares about this deep, spiritual wrestling, but He also wants to step in and see you through it. Join Lysa TerKeurst on the streets of Israel to explore the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Through her interactive, in-depth study of Finding I AM, you’ll discover how Jesus can fully satisfy the cry of your heart. You can order your copy here.

CONNECT:

Want to know if Lysa is speaking in a town near you soon? Check out her speaking schedule here.

REFLECT AND RESPOND:

How have you been praying lately? In boldness or in timidity? Why?

Write down three bold prayers you’d like to pray today. Pray them again tomorrow. And again the next day. Even pray them for the next month. And know with full assurance that the tremors of your prayers will extend far-wide and far-high and far-deep. Pray and wait for God to respond.

© 2017 by Lysa TerKeurst. All rights reserved.