7 Habits of a Mature DiscipleSample

Habit 3: Mature Disciples Pray Continually

When we read the Bible, God talks to us. When we pray, we talk to God.

Prayer changes everything, so we should pray about everything. We simply talk to God and enjoy his continual presence. We listen for his whisper amidst the shouts of our culture. We recognize the nudges of his Holy Spirit to act, love, forgive, or share our faith.

Prayer is the birthing canal for the dreams God puts in our hearts. Like a new mother delivers her loved baby, so prayer delivers the things God loves to see accomplished. God puts his desires in our hearts, and then our prayers birth them into reality. Faith becomes sight.

Again, having a daily time of reading the Bible and praying is crucial to our maturity as Jesus-followers. Set a time that can work for you most days, if not every day. Then make this time the most important time of your day. You can write out a prayer list and focus on a different list each day of the week, or you can pray for an hour by targeting twelve special requests for five minutes each. Or you can pray the scriptures as you read them, claiming the promises over your needs and declaring the goodness of your God.

Prayer is simply talking with God, asking for, and agreeing with his wisdom.