Praying Purposefully

This weekend, I started my first prayer journal. Hallelujah! It makes such a difference to see your prayers written down on a page. Not only does it hold me accountable to actually praying for people, but it gives me a way to center my thoughts and heart. Really, why did it take me this long to get this going? Prayer is too important to forget or deceitfully promise.

Philippians 4:6 (ESV): Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

My purpose for becoming more intentional in prayer stems from a need to go deeper with God. I'm tired of wandering off on my own paths. Think about it in context: when something matters to us, we devote time and attention to it. If God matters as much to me as I claim He does, I should work towards growing closer to Him. And if I believe that prayer is truly capable of making a change, then I should be purposeful about addressing all things and seeking answers.

Exodus 14:14 (NIV): The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.

Here's one way to think about it: the more you talk with someone, the more you will know about them. And the more that you listen, the more they will share with you. Only after pouring into a relationship will you receive more frequent and intimate responses. If you aren't praying with diligence, you won't know God as deeply, and without the proper listening you shouldn't be surprised to receive less of a response. Having a prayer journal is not just a way to stay on task and organize my prayers. Right now, it is a reminder to me that I must invest. Where am I seeking clarity from? Am I sufficiently focused on this most important relationship in my life?