Three Ways To Change Your Prayer Life Forever

Whether you are in a spiritual battle right now or you are resting in the grace of God, prayer is still at the center of everything a Christian woman does. Our heart longs to reach out to God when we're surrounded by the trials of life, just as it does when we sing His praises.

There are three very specific ways we can change the way we pray forever. It's my personal prayer that you will be able to learn from my story of life-altering prayer and apply it to your own situation today.

Praying Scripture
During one of the most difficult times of my life, I read through the book of Psalms so many times. There was something about reading David’s words of suffering and all the prayers he prayed that struck a chord in me. I didn’t know exactly what to pray for myself, but I found the words I needed in David’s psalms.

In my prayer closet, I taped the words of Psalm 143 to the wall. I read it to myself, prayed it out loud and had most of the 12 verses memorized. It became the anthem to my life for many months.

A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness.
And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead.
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate.
I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands.
I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.
Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit.
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.
Psalm 143

I would encourage you, if you haven’t already, to find a passage of Scripture that applies to the season and situations of life you are in right now. Read them, study them, prayer over them and post them where you can see them all the time. Make God’s word such a part of your heart and your time that you can’t imagine life without it.

Tried & Proven

As many of you know, I have multiple Bibles for multiple purposes. One is my girly Bible, where I highlighted in pink all the verses that referred to women. My black study Bible has notes from sermons and ladies meetings all through it. And my journaling Bible has my creative touch on every page, as well as my thoughts and prayers.

In my study Bible I have “T&P” written countless times in the margins. In the verses beside them, you would read a promise from God that I have specifically seen and experienced in my own life. I have tried God, and He has proven Himself faithful.

While it’s still early in the year and in your Bible reading plan, to think about those three words (or two words and a &) as you have your daily quiet time. Any time you read a passage and nod your head thinking, “Oh yes, He’s done that for me,” write T&P next to it. Make a note to remind yourself of what that fulfilled promise was. Next year, when you read those verses again, you’ll have to smile as you remember how faithful God has been.

Practice Maintenance Prayer

When I have received miracles in my life, they are all tied to God’s goodness and grace in my life. I have spent month after month and year after year praying for God to move in miraculous ways, and I have the battlescars from that spiritual warfare. The joy comes in the morning, as I have also seen miracles that were direct answers to specific prayers.

But many times, the prayers were answered so the prayers stopped. Oh yes, I prayed flat on my face in thanksgiving and praise, and I still do. But the intensity of praying for answers and actions often slows down when you see what you’ve been praying for.

Life goes back to “normal” or you find a new “normal,” and you find new prayers to pray and people to lift up to God. The prayers about those miracles you received taper off because, well, you received your answer.

But I want you to look at the power and importance of maintenance prayer today. Just because the prayer is answered doesn’t mean the underlying problems go away. When a marriage is restored, there are still relationship issues that have to be addressed and fixed. When a prodigal child returns, there are still hurts to heal. When a child is born, finances are provided and jobs are offered, there are new prayers needed for this next phase of life.

These maintenance prayers are just as important as the original prayers for the situation. Whether you’re praying for yourself or someone else, don’t stop praying just because you received an answer to prayer. Keep the situation bathed in prayer as the steps continue down God’s path of life. The prayer should continue, just with a new focus.

I pray that in the coming weeks and months, you will apply these three kinds of prayer to your daily time with the Lord. I have seen them touch God in powerful ways, and I have seen His faithfulness in return, and I know He will do the same for you.